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ILIBRARY OF CONGRESS.! 

I UNITED STATES OP AMERICA. | 



S,<SS,<3^<*>^^J 



The Blood of'Abel 

— r_ V 



V^>~^ 



Virtus, recludens immeritis inori 
Coelum, negata tentat inter via, 
Coetusque vulgar es et tidam 
Spernit humum fugiente pennaP 

— HORATIL'S. 



"^ • ^^-.^ 



COPYRIGHT, 1887, BY WlLBUR F. BRYANT. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 




Publisheil, for the author, by the 

(AZETTK-JOIRNAL COMPANY, IlASTINtiS, NlCltRl 

1887. 






TO THE MEMORY OF 

WILLIAM LEARNED MARCY, 

A Democrat of the Old School; a Statesman- of 

SUPERLATIVE Ap.ILITY; THE CONTEMPORARY OF 

Calhoun, Clay and Webster; and the 

Peer of Them All; and, Best of All, 

THE Fearless and Uncompromising 

Defender of the Rights of 

Americans Abroad, 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS DEDICATED 

BY 

The Author. 



PREFACE. 



^^T^IIOMAS PAINE says, somewhere, that the hist part 
^ of a book, to be written, is the preface. He might have 
added, that it was the hardest to write. It is the author's 
apology to the reader. I do not like apologies. Hence I 
shall offer none. This little book was not written for gold 
or for glory, nor for that fool's gold of fame — notoriety. Its 
author had a word to speak; and he has spoken it. 

W. F. B. 

West Point, March 21, 1SS7. 



'* l^-S lEL was the John Brown of the half-breed, — a fanatic with a just 
A^V. cause behind him, at least a cause which rested on the bed-rock of 
justice in the minds of his supporters. " — {^Springfield Republican. 

"He was a man of strange temperament, 

Of mild demeanor, though of savage mood, 
Moderate in all his habits, and content 

With temperance in pleasure, as in food, 
Quick to perceive, and strong to bear, and meant 

For something better, if rot wholly good ; 
His country's wrongs, and his despair to save her, 
Had stung him from a slave to an enslaver." 

— \^DescriptioJi of Lainhro in Byron's Don Jitan. 



" I did all I could to get free institutions for Manitoba. They have those 
institutions to-day in Manitoba, and try to improve them, while myself who ob- 
tained them, I am forgotten as if I were dead." 

— [Loiiix RiePs Address to the Jury. 



"Ah God! that gastly gibbet! how dismal 'tis to see 
The gre.it, tall, spectral skeleton, the ladder, and the tree." 

— ]^.4ytoiin. 



" Had Don Paciiico been naturalized at Gibraltar instead of having been born 
there, he would have been not the less entitled to ' British Protection.' " 

— [Sir Alexander Cockburn. 



Speak, Satire, for there's none can tell like thee. 

Whether 'tis folly, pride, or knavery, 

That makes this discontented land appear 

Less happy now in times of peace, than war." — [Defoe. 



Tin-: Jiijxn) OF A hi: I.. 

'" My charges upon record will outlast 

The brass of both his epitaph and tomb.' 
' Kepent'st thou not,' said Michael, 'of some past 
Exaggeration ? Something which may doom 
Thyself if false, as him if true? Thou wast 

Too bitter — is it not so? — in thy gloom 
Of passion? ' ' Passion I ' cried the jjhantom dim, 
' I loved my country, and I hated him.' " 
\Dialogne betiveeu Michael and Junius, in Byron's I'ision of Jud'ginent. 



•• The watchful care and interest of this Government over its citizens are not 
relinquished because they are gone abroad, and if charged with a crime com- 
mitted in the foreign land, a fair and open trial, conducted with a decent regard 
for justice, and humanity, will be demanded for them." 

— [ President Cleveland'' s Message to Congress, December 6, iSS6. 



" And the Lord said to Cain : Where is thy brother Abel ? and he answered : 
I know not; am I my brother's keeper? And he said to him : What hast thou 
done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth to me from the earth. " 

— [ Genesis, Chap, iv., g-io. 



The Blood of Abel 



PART THE FIRST. 



Ultima Thule 



THE BLOOD OF ABEL, 

Part the First. 

THE NORTH-WEST. 



" This king of the solitudes needs an empire for his operations." 

— \^J'roffSSor Bryce. 

-'TT^HE most important physical division of the North 
*A* American continent is the great central plain which 
stretches from the Arctic Ocean, on the North, to the Gulph 
of Mexico, on the South. This plain is bounded on the West 
by the Rocky Mountains, and on the East by the Appalachian 
Mountain system, which, under the various names of Appa- 
lachian, Alleghany, Catskill, Adirondacks, Green Mountains 
and White Mountains, extends along the coast of the Atlantic, 
northerly, to the water system formed by the Great Lakes and 
the Saint Lawrence River, north of which system the great 
plain, leaping beyond the boundaries Nature has fixed in the 
South, stretches out, toward the East, to Hudson Bay, and 
South of that bay, in the dreary, fan-shaped desert of north- 
ern Labrador, which country is bounded on the South by the 
Wotchish Mountains. It is hardly exaggeration to say, that 
a person might walk through this plain, from the mouth of 
the Mackenzie River, at its northern to the Delta of the Mis- 
sissippi at its southern extremity, without meeting a percepti- 
ble rise upon the face of the country. Near the centre of 



10 THE JiLOOl) OF AJIHL. 

this basin, however, in about latitude 50^^ north, there is a 
broad but gentle swell, without any defined crest. This 
water-shed, as it is calletl, starts from the eastern slope of the 
Rocky Mountains, and runs eastward, toward Lake Superior, 
a little West of which it divides. Its rise is so gradual, that 
the unscientific observer can discover the summit, only by the 
general course of the rivers, which, diverging at this place, 
like the rivers of Eden, flow in a northerly or southerly di- 
rection, toward the Arctic Ocean or the Gulph, accordingly 
as they rise to the North or South of the summit. It might 
be shaving the e<\gG of hyperbole to imagine two drops of 
rain falling upon the summit of this swell simultaneously, and 
parting company at the apex of its obtuse angle; the one to 
be borne southward, by the Mississippi, to the tepid waters of 
the Gulph: the other by Nelson River and Hudson Strait to 
the frozen ocean of the North. This terrene wave of demarca- 
tion was once believed to be the track of the isothermal line 
of agriculture, in this region. But here history has given the 
lie to science. 

The country north of the 55th degree of latitude may, per- 
haps, be regarded as the finest fur-producing country in the 
world. Its rocky soil and severe climate render it unfit for ag- 
riculture. The territory lying south of this latitude, and north 
of the 49th degree, between the Rocky Mountains, and the 
S9th meridian of longitude, is a country' bearing in its womb 
giant possibilities. Already a large portion of it has been 
redeemed from desolation and savagery by the silent, but 
telling labour of the rustic toiler. Fate has destined this to 
be the great wheat-producing country of the globe. It re- 
quires neither the pen of a poet, nor the eye of a seer to 
picture a second Odessa springing up on the coast of Hudson 
Bay. when the beaten path of commerce shall lie between 
the mouth of the Mersey and the mouth of the Nelson. In 
this country we might place Austria-Hungary, England and 
Fiance; and have left sufficient territorv for a respectable 



77//V XOh'TJl-WEST. 11 

empire. The careful studetit of history will never consider 
its climate as militating against its future. Any person famil- 
iar with Ca'sar's Commentaries will realize what changes the 
settlement of the country, the cultivation of the soil, and the 
introduction of civilization have wrought in the climate of 
Europe. Manitoba is in the same latitude as the southern 
part of England. Yet the time was, since the commencement 
of our era. when England, then a cold and barren land, was 
in possession of wandering tribes who inhabited rude huts, 
made of wicker and mud, erected in clusters or hamlets, like 
Indian tipis. One such there was upon the shores of a river, 
bounded on three sides by a trackless forest. This was called 
Llyn-Din, or "the town on the lake." Contrast it with the 
London of to-day. 

The pride of the North-West is its rivers and lakes. In 
these it rivals almost any country of the Old World. For the 
purposes of this volume the description of only one of these 
rivers is necessary. The Saskatchewan is geographically and 
historically famous, at once the Rhine and Tiber of the North- 
West. Its name is either a corruption of, or a derivative from, 
the Indian word Kissiskachewan, signifying, in the Cree lan- 
guage, "swift current." This river, like the Nile, has an upper 
course, consisting of two branches. The North branch rises 
in Glacier Lake, a body of water, about ten miles in length 
by two m width, lying on the east slope of the Rocky Mount- 
ains, near Sullivan's Peak, at an altitude of 6,347 ^^^'^ above 
the level of the sea, nearly the height of Mount Washington. 
The course of this stream is East, past Mount Murchison, a 
point of land 15,789 feet above the sea-level — a trifle higher 
than Mount Blanc. Then, changing its course to a more 
northerly direction, it unites with the south branch near longi- 
tude 105'^ 12', about 12*^ 18' east of its source. This branch 
is about 550 miles in length, longer than the Penobscot, An- 
droscoggin and Mohawk rivers combined. The south fork 
is formed by the junction of two little mountain streams, the 



12 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

Bow and Belly. In fact, later explorations have nearl}- estab- 
lished the fact, that the Bow is the main stream ; and the other 
is a mere tributary. Bow River takes its rise in a tiny lake 
which descends from a magnificent glacier, and in a group of 
springs in the vicinity. After its junction v\'ith the Belly it 
pursues a southerlv course till it unites with the Deer River. 
Thence it pursues a more easterly course till it unites with 
the north 1 ranch. The latitude of these sources differs a little 
more than two degrees. From the union of tlie north and 
south branches, the main stream pursues its course for about 
200 miles. This course is North-East to parallel "^^^ '-, then 
the river, changing its course, describes an ox-bow, takes a gen- 
eral south-easterly course to Cedar Lake. The lake is simply 
an expansion or widening of the river, which keeps its course 
to Lake Winnipeg, into the north-west portion of which it 
empties. In the north-east part of this lake the Nelson River 
takes its rise; and, after a course of 350 miles, it enters Hud- 
son Bay. This river is, by many geographers, considered an 
extension of the Saskatchewan. English explorers bestowed 
the name of the hero of Trafalgar upon the ri\cr; but its 
source has a less romantic name — Winnipeg signifving, in 
Algonquin, " dirty water." The mountains along the Sas- 
katchewan are heavily timbered. Coal and iron have been 
discovered upon both branches. The area of the entire 
basin is 240,000 square miles, larger th:ni the states of 
California and Minnesota combined. In the year 1876 an 
American of some pretentions wrote of this valley: "The 
basins of both branches are generallv too wild and moun- 
tainous, and the climate too rigorous to admit of much culti- 
vation.''' 

One can not read such words now, and suppress a smile. 
The valley of the main river presents an excellent agricul- 
tural and grazing district. The Saskatchewan is generally 
frozen from the middle of November till the middle of April. 
During the greater part of the year, however, it is na\ igable 



TlIK y( > h' Tll- 1 1 'EST. 13 

for steamboats; and is destined to he the great natural thor- 
oughfare of commerce in the North-West. 

As the Saskatchewan is to be the greatest natural, so is the 
Canadian Pacific raih-oad to be the greatest artificial liighway 
of this country. This company was incorporated February 
17, iSSi, with an authorized capital of $100,000,000. 'Ihe 
charter conferred, amongst other powers, the right of con- 
structing and operating telegraphic lines; the right of bi'ilding 
branch roads along the entire length of the main line; and of 
establishing steamship lines at its termini. The company 
was subsidized, by the Dominion Government, in the sum of 
$25,000,000 together with a donation of 35,000,000 acres of 
land. The government, having previously gone into the 
railroad business, had constructed 713 miles of road, at a cost 
of $35,000,000, which it transferred to the company, free of 
cost. At the session of the Dominion Parliament for 1884, 
the administration then in power, under the Right Honour- 
able Sir John A. Macdonald, as premier, stood pledged before 
their constituencies for an early construction of the road. 
The railroad company was upon the ragged edge of bank- 
ruptcy. They could raise money neither in Wall Street nor 
London, upon the company's bonds. If they failed in the 
construction of the road, defeat threatened the government. 
In this dilemma the Van Buren of Canadian politics was 
equal to the emergency. He resorted to what politicians 
call " log-rolling." His party, under his leadership, subsi- 
dized local roads, and resorted to "every wile that's justi- 
fied by honour," — and some which casuists might question, — 
until they secured the grant of $30,000,000, taking as security 
a mortgage upon the road from Calendar (near the source of 
the Matawin River) westward. The opposition character- 
ized the security as absolutely worthless, because the first one 
thousand miles of the mortgaged track passed • through an 
unproductive country. Considering all things, the establish- 
ment of this great highway was cheaply purchased. What- 



14 THE r.LOOD OF A II EL. 

ever faults he may have (and faults he has in profusion), the 
name of Sir John A. Macdonald is forever linked with the 
consummation of this enterprise. 

In 1S85 the capital stock of the road was reduced to 
$65,000,000. Upon this amount the government has guar- 
anteed a minimum dividend of three per cent, by the year for 
ten years from August, 1883, the company placing collateral 
in the hands of the government, which at four per cent, in- 
terest, provides for this. The. Canadian Pacific extends from 
Montreal 2,609 miles to New Westminster, in British Co- 
lumbia. It must be confessed (however reluctantly by us 
Americans), that the route by the Canadian Pacific Railroad 
has some advantages in its favour, as against the Union Pa- 
cific and Central Pacific, by Omaha and Ogden,to San Fran- 
cisco. What these advantages are it is foreign to the purpose 
to enumerate. But the establishment of a branch road from 
the main line of the Canadian Pacific to the mouth of the 
Nelson River, and a line of ocean steamers from thence to 
Liverpool, would be almost the creation of a New World in 
the North- West. What the Canadian Pacific has already 
achieved for this country there is not space to write-of. It 
would be the oft-repeated story of towns springing up, like 
the Ivy of Jonas; of town-sites playing the role of Aladdin"'s 
Lamp; and, last, but not least, the sturdy tiller of the soil — 
the man who comes to stay — -following in the w^ake of the 
speculator. 

The Third Napoleon spoke of what he called " the logic 
of events." One fond of studying this kind of logic might 
trace a visible connection between the history of the Oregon 
question, and the building of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. 
By the treaty of 18 18, between Great Britain and the United 
States, the parallel of 49^' north was established as the bouiul- 
ary line between the States and British America, East of the 
Rocky Mountains, as far as the Lake of the Woods; and a 
conipromise was effected as to the Pacific slope, leaving it 



77/ /•; \() h' 111- 1 1 Vv'V T. 1.-, 

()|)en to the subjects of both the realm and the republic, con- 
stituting it a kind of political No-Man's-Laiul. The march 
of civilization forced the question of its ownership upon the 
diplomates and statesmen of both nations. Great Britain 
limited her claim by the parallel of 42^'; and the demagogues 
of the Clay and Polk campaign pushed the American claim 
to the extravagant and imaginary boundary of 54''' 40'. 
*' Fifty-four forty or fight " was made the slogan of the 
democrats, who were led to victory by Polk and Dallas, 
President Polk, in his inaugural address, spoke of the Amer- 
ican claim as "clear and unquestionable." Had this claim 
been successfully asserted, as it was sought to be. Great Brit- 
ain would have had no coast-line in this region; and the Ca- 
nadian Pacific Railroad would never have been built, as the 
cause for its building would not have existed ; and the Norlh- 
West would never have been blessed with this great civilizer, 
the source of nearly all its prosperity. 

In the portion of country last defined there are three entire 
political divisions, and parts of two others. The province 
of Manitoba lies wholly within this tract. Manitoba has an 
area of about 125,000 square miles, being nearly the size of 
the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin combined. Manitoba 
is bounded on the South by the United States (Minnesota and 
Dakota), on the West by Assinniboia and Saskatchewan, on 
the North by Saskatchewan and Keewatin, and on the East by 
Keew^atin. Manitoba is (this is said reverently) the Promised 
Land of the North-West. Though neither literally, nor, per- 
haps, figuratively a " land flowing with milk and honey," it is 
a land blessed with a fertile soil, a dry and healthy climate, and 
an intelligent and enterprising populace. This province be- 
longs to the Dominion of Canada; and is represented in the 
House of Commons, at Ottawa, by six members. Manitoba, 
along with the remainder of the Dominion, enjoys a govern- 
ment in form monarchial, but in fact republican. We of the 
States have been so much impressed by the froth and the 



lU THE niAHJI) OF A BEL. 

spread-eagleism of the average Fourth-of-July orator, that we 
have ahnost come to think that there is no Hberty outside of 
the United States, This is a great mistake. The Hberty we 
now enjoy is very Httle of it distinctively American. It may, 
rather, be called Anglo-Saxon, the common property of Eng- 
lishmen and Americans. Yes, many of the stereotyped 
axioms of our law, and some of our constitutional enactments 
are almost literal translations of Magna Charta. 

In Manitoba suffrage is well-nigh universal. The assertion 
is ventured, that a person moving across the line from Min- 
nesota to Manitoba, would not experience a perceptible 
abridgement of his political rights, after he had resided there 
the requisite period; and had taken the oath of allegiance. 

It may be said, that the whole British Empire is taxed to 
keep up a familv of do-nothings, who, save for their empty 
rank, would not attract the attention of their next-door neigh- 
bours. The first part of this proposition is hardly true; the 
second may be correct; and yet will not the long line of Eng- 
land's monarchs, from William I. to Victoria, compare fa- 
vourably with our list of presidents? Is not the percentage of 
greatness as large in the one, as in the other? Then, too, 
does royalty cost more than our quadrennial presidential elec- 
tions? It is not meant to convey the idea, that the writer of 
this volume is a monarchist. But he bases his belief of re- 
publicanism on other grounds than those mentioned. 

The city of Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, is located 
upon the Red River of the North. This river takes its rise 
in the United States, and empties into Lake Winnipeg. The 
city is situated at the junction of the Assinniboine with Red 
River. Its site is upon a perfectly level plain, between 600 
and 700 feet above the level of the sea. It is hard to place 
the population of a western town, on account of its continued 
tendency to outstrip itself. But that of Winnipeg may be 
placed at the approximate figures of 20,000. The city has a 
system of horse-cars; and is lighted with electricity. In com- 



THE NORTH-WEST. 17 

mercial importance Winnipeg is ranked as the fifth city of 
the Dominion. Winnipeg has steamboat connections, by way 
of the Red River of the Nortii and Lake Winnipeg, with 
the mouth of the Saskatchewan, which is navigable for steam- 
boats for hundreds of miles of its course. The Assinniboine 
is navigable by steamboats for about 300 miles West from 
Winnipeg; but the Canadian Pacific Railroad has rendered 
navigation in this direction in less demand. 

To speak further upon the numerous attractions of this 
lovely province would be too great a departure from the pur- 
pose of this volume. 

Within the extent of territory last defined, and to the West, 
North and North- West of the province of Manitoba, lie the 
four new districts of Athabasca, Alberta, Saskatchewan and 
Assinniboia. These districts were erected out of the North- 
West Territories, by an order in Council, for sundry purposes, 
more particularly postal facilities. 

The district of Assinniboia is about 95,000 square miles in 
extent, stretching through three degrees of latitude, and near- 
ly ten degrees of longtitude, and is bounded as follows: On 
the South by the international boundary line, between the 
United States and the Dominion of Canada, being the 49th 
parallel of latitude; on the East by meridian loii/^, being the 
western boundary line of Manitoba; on the North by the 9th 
correction line of the Dominicm survey, the southern bound- 
ary of Saskatchewan, nearly identical with the 52d parallel; 
on the West by the eastern boundary of Alberta, at and along 
the III 1-5 meridian. The name of this territory is of Indian 
origin. All of this district lying east of the 104th parallel is 
included, together with a portion of Manitoba, in a vast pla- 
teau, comparable in extent to one of the steppes of Russia. 
This great table-land has a mean altitude of 1,600 feet, and a 
width of 250 miles on the international boundary line. Its 
area is about 105,000 square miles. The district is traversed, 
from East to West, by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Along 
2 



18 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

the line of the road are located the famous Bell farm, and the 
settlement of croifters from the Gorden-Cathcart estate, 
known throughout the world as the Benbecula colony. In 
this district is situated the town of Regina, capital of the 
North-West Territories. A little to the north of Regina lies 
Long Lake. The north-western portion of the district is 
traversed by the south fork of the Saskatchewan River; the 
eastern portion by the Qu'Apelle and Assinniboine. 

The district of Saskatchewan extends through three degrees 
of latitude and ten of longitude, and contains about i 14,000 
square miles. It is bounded on the South by Assinniboia and 
Manitoba; on the East by Manitoba, Lake Winnipeg and the 
Nelson river; on the North by the iSth correction line of the 
Dominion land-survey into townships, near the 55th parallel; 
and on the West by the line of that survey dividing the 10th 
and I ith ranges of townships, west of the fourth initial me- 
ridian, at and along the 1 1 1 1-5 meridian, the same being the 
eastern boundary of Alberta. This district is traversed by 
the Saskatchewan River, from which its name is derived. It 
is sparsely settled, but is a country of immense resources. It 
contains the settlements of Prince Albert and Battleford — 
the former located upon the left bank of the north fork of 
the Saskatchewan about 25 miles from its union with the 
south branch; the latter upon the right bank of the same 
fork about 150 miles higher up the stream, at the junction with 
its tributary, the Battle River. Each of these places is a sta- 
tion of the mounted police, so-called. Between these two 
stations, a little nearer to the former than to the latter, is a 
bend in the river, called the elbow. Upon the right bank of 
the north branch of the Saskatchewan, about 48 miles from 
its union with its fellow are the town and fort of Carlton. A 
line drawn nearly due South from hence, fourteen miles to 
the south fork, would intersect Batoche, a village, the nucleus 
of a half-breed settlement. About half-way betwixt these 
two places, seven miles from either, is Duck Lake. A proper 



'/•///•; Murni- \vi:st. lo 

uiulcrstandiiig of what is to follow dcinaiids, that the geogra- 
phy of this region be minutely given; but further details will 
be given in the relation of events connected therewith. 

The district of Alberta extends from the International 
boundary line, through six degrees of latitude, to the 55th 
parallel. It is bounded at the South by the United States; 
on the East by Assinniboia and Saskatchewan; on the North 
by the 18th correction line, before mentioned; on the West 
by British Columbia. This district is a namesake of the late 
Prince Consort. As Manitoba is destined to rival, and, jDer- 
haps, exceed Russia as a wheat-producing country, so is 
Alberta fated to outstrip Switzerland as a dairy-land. Both 
forks of the Saskatchewan take their rise in this district. The 
Canadian Pacific Railroad crosses it in the southern portion. 

The district of Athabasca lies north of Alberta, which forms 
its southern boundary. It is bounded on the East by the 
meridian that forms the eastern boundary of Alberta and the 
Athabasca and vSlave rivers; on the North by the 32nd cor- 
rection line, near the 60th parallel; and on the West by Brit- 
ish Columbia, meridian 120. Athabasca signifies, in the In- 
dian tongue, "swampy." This is no misnomer. The famous 
Peace River traverses this district. Like Saskatchewan, this 
district is a country of a thin population, but immense re- 
sources. 

In the year 1S85 the North-West Territories, which in- 
cluded the four districts enumerated, were under the govern- 
ment of a Lieutenant-Governor and Council. This Lieutenant- 
Governor received his appointment from, and by authority 
of the Governor-General (of the Dominion) in council. His 
commission was issued under the Great Seal of Canada; and 
he held his office during the pleasure of the Governor-Gen- 
eral — which meant the pleasure of the administration in 
power. He administered his government under instructions 
given him by order in council; or by the Secretary of State. 
In case of absence, illness, or other inability of the Lieu- 



20 77//V r.LOOI) OF ABEL. 

tenant-Governor, the Governor-General was empowered to 
appoint an administrator (so-called) to execute the functions 
of the office. 

The Lieutenant-Governor's auxiliary council consisted of 
several persons, not exceeding the number of six, in the first 
instance, of which council the stipendiary magistrates, for 
the North-West Territories, hereinafter mentioned,were mem- 
bers, each one by virtue of his office; and each member of 
such council, whether a stipendiary or otherwise, received his 
appointment by warrant, under seal, from the Governor- 
General, with the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for 
Canada. The Governor, also, appointed a clerk for such 
council. 

As soon as the Lieutenant-Governor was satisfied, that any 
district or portion of the North- West Territories, not exceeding 
an area of one thousand square miles, contained a population 
of not less than one thousand inhabitants of adult age, exclu- 
sive of aliens and unenfranchised Indians, he was required to 
erect that portion into an electoral district, designating by 
proclamation its name and boundaries. Such district was 
thereafter entitled to elect a member of the council. 

A person to be a qualified elector, to vote for a member of 
the council, must be a male resident in good faith, and a 
house-holder of adult age, within the electoral district; and 
must have resided in such electoral district for twelve months 
consecutively just prior to the issuance of the writ of election. 
Aliens and unenfranchised Indians were excepted from the 
above provisions, by special mention. Any person entitled 
to vote might be a member of the council. 

When the number of elected members amounted to twen- 
ty-one, the council was to cease and determine; and such 
members thereafter were to constitute a legislative assembly. 

The Lieutenant-Governor and council were authorized 
under certain restrictions, to pass ordinances for the govern- 
ment of the North-West Territories. They were further 



TJH-: y< } /.' 77/- 1 1 h'ST. 2\ 

empowered to locate the capital of the North- West Terri- 
tories, and to change its location, in their descretioii. 

The Lieutenant-Governor received a yearly stipend of 
$7,000, which was paid out of the revenue fund of Canada. 

The Governor (of the Dominion) might from time to 
time, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint one or 
more fit and proper persons (not exceeding three) barristers- 
at-lavv, or advocates of five-years' standing, in any of the 
provinces, to be and act as stipendiary magistrates within 
the North-West Territories, who should hold office during 
pleasure, and who should reside at such place or places as 
might, from time to time, be ordered by the Governor in 
council. A stipendiary magistrate, as the name imports, is a 
magistrate who receives a stipend, or pecuniary compensa- 
tion, for his official services. He is so designated, in contra- 
distinction of a justice of the peace, who receives no pay what- 
ever. In the North-West Territories the salary of a stipendiary 
magistrate was fixed, by law, not to exceed the sum of $3,000. 

Two of the then incumbents were the Honourable Hugh 
Richardson, who resided and still resides at Regina, Assinni- 
boia; and Honourable Charles Rouleau, who lived at Battle- 
ford, now domiciled at Calgary, Alberta. Both of these 
gentlemen are lawyers of learning and good standing, as 
well as gentlemen of recognized ability and refined culture. 

Each stipendiary magistrate had the magisterial and other 
functions appertaining to a justice of the peace, or any two 
justices of the peace, under any laws and ordinances which 
might, from time to time, be in force in the North-West 
Territories; they, also, had power to hear and determine any 
charge against any person, for any criminal offense, alleged 
to have been committed in the North-West Territories, or in 
any territory eastward of the Rocky Mountains wherein the 
boundary between the provinces of British Columbia and the 
North-West Territories had not been officially ascertained, as 
follows: 



22 rilE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

I. In cases of commission or attempt to commit larceny, 
embezzlement, or obtain money or property by false pre- 
tenses, or feloniously receiving stolen property, in any case 
where the value does not, in the opinion of the magistrate, 
exceed two hundred dollars. 

3. Cases of aggravated and malicious assault. 

3. Assaults upon females (except with intent to commit 
a rape), and upon males under fourteen years of age. 

4. Escape, or assault on magistrates. 

In all the cases above named the charge was tried in a sum- 
mary way, and without the intervention of a jury. In all 
other criminal cases the stipendiary magistrate and a justice 
of the peace, with the intervention of a jury of six, might try 
any charge, against any person or persons, for any crime. 

A person convicted of any offense punishable with death 
might appeal to the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba, 
which had jurisdiction to confirm the conviction or order a 
new trial. The procedure upon such appeal was regulated 
by the ordinance of the Lieutenant-Governor in council. 

The question of whether or not the common-law right of 
a defendant as to being tried only upon the presentment of a 
grand jury, or coroner's inquest, in a criminal prosecution, 
existed in the North-West Territories was formerly a mooted 
question amongst lawyers. But it was, in that historic year, 
forever put at rest. The Queen's Bench of Manitoba, in an 
opinion full of that specious and plausible reasoning, which 
intoxicates the understanding, and seduces the judgment, 
have decided in favour of the negative. The decision in Queen 
against Connor, decided at Easter Term, 1SS5, though 
colourable reasoning, is bad law. 

The naturalization laws are particulary liberal. Three 
years of consecutive residence, and the oath of allegiance, is 
all that is required. No abjuration is demanded, as with us, 
and this last is a useless refinement of barbarism. 

In becoming a British citizen, the tlenizen has one thing to 



Tin: \(>irrii-\vi:sT. 23 

console him: He has sworn allegiance to an empire that is 
historical in defense of her citizens in foreign lands. If she 
has murdered sepoys, and oppressed Zulus, let her plead 
guilty before the Great Tribunal of mankind, or stand her 
trial. But, if she has maltreated her own subjects, she has 
not allowed others to do so. In this respect she is the peeress 
of any nation since the days of ancient Rome. 

The law in regard to the property rights of married wom- 
en is, perhaps, more liberal than that of any state in the 
American Union. An analysis of its provisions, however, 
would be foreign to the purpose of this volume. 

The system of land surveys and entries is similar to that in 
force in the western states. The public lands are open to 
entry under homestead, pre-emption and timber-culture laws. 
The land is surveyed into sections and townships. So exact 
has been the survey, that the surveyors have gone over the 
work twice with chains of different lengths; and the length 
of north and south township boundaries has been made to 
conform to the circumfricity of the earth. 

The inhabitants of this region are made-up from three gen- 
eral classes — whites, Indians and half-breeds. I think it was 
Doctor Strauss who compared the American Nation, with its 
ceaseless tide of immigrants, to a seething smelting-pot, into 
which are constantly thrown new and crude materials which 
keep up the heterogeneousness of the entire mass. The 
simile would not be out of place here. 

The whites of the North-West are made-up of Englishmen, 
Scotchmen, Irishmen, Welchnien, Orcadians, Frenchmen, 
Icelanders, Canucks; and, indeed, (with scarcely a hvper- 
boJe) of every kindred and tongue under Heaven. Their 
number is uncertain. An author who attempts to give the 
population of a western territory is in danger of being 
laughed-at; and being informed, in the vernacular of the day, 
that he is "behind the times." 

The Indians of Manitoba and the North -West Territories 



24 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

number about 34,000. Most, if not all of these, belong to 
the Algonquin family. They are divided into about twenty 
different tribes and parts of tribes. A detailed account of 
these would be too much of a digression. The Blackfeet, or 
Blood Indians, and the Crees are, perhaps, the most impor- 
tant. 

The Blackfeet are the most westerly tribe of the Algon- 
quin family. They have a dialect which differs almost radi- 
cally from that of the other tribes of the same family. Their 
original home was the valley of the Saskatchewan. Intes- 
tine feuds caused a separation between the Satiska, or Black- 
feet proper, and the Kenna or Blood Indians. The former 
retired to the valley of the Missouri. Here they were 
dubbed " Blackfeet," by their new-found enemies, the Crow 
Indians. They are, by a second secession, now divided into 
three bands. These Indians are great horse-thieves. They 
are, or at least were, originally, worshipers of the sun ; and, 
like the Parsees of Persia and India, who worship the same 
deity, they never bury their dead. Their number within the 
British lines is estimated at 6,000; but this is a little uncer- 
tain. 

Of the Crees and other tribes, more will be said hereafter. 
The term half-breed, as used in the North- West, is applied 
generally to all inhabitants of a mixed origin, and particularl}- 
to those of a mixed Indian and Caucasian descent. At the date 
of the formation of the territories they contained the represent- 
atives of fourteen civilized nations, and twenty-two Indian 
tribes. Marriages (mostly of a morganatic nature) were con- 
tracted between the civilized men and the savage women. 
The amalgamation of the antediluvian days was repeated. 
The sons of God seeing the daughters of men, that they were 
fair, took to themselves wives of all which they desired. The 
Scripture says, that there were giants in those days. So, too, 
the half-breeds are a race of large, well-formed and power- 
ful men. Most of them are dark-skinned, though some of 



THE SO R Til- 1 1 'i:s T. 2.5 

them arc fair. Thev are instinctively travellers, If there is 
anything in the science of phrenology, the half-breeds of the 
North-West must, as a rule, have a morbid development of 
the organ of Locality. They possess many of the Indian 
characteristics, both as regards instincts and vices. One of 
the former is the ability of steering across the trackless waste 
of prairie and forest, and striking an objective point, without 
any knowledge, save a general one, as to the lay of the coun- 
try. They are, almost exclusively, without education. They 
nearly all sign their mark. Like the Indian, they enjoy a 
good time, and are bent upon having one whenever the op- 
portunity offers. Most of the half-breeds are descended from 
either Scotch or French fathers. The French half-breeds 
are, like their paternal ancestry, polite and hospitable. 

Harriet Beecher Stowe calls the Anglo-Saxons the Romans 
of the nineteenth century ; and adds that, like the Romans, we 
over-ride and oppress weaker races; and she mentions, as ex- 
ample, the Negro, the Hindoo, and the North Ainerican Indian. 
She failed to mention the Irishman. Perhaps before this 
book is closed the reader may conclude that there are others 
which might have been added to the list. 

For a long time, perhaps ever since the separation of the 
North American colonies from Great Britain, there have 
existed two" parties in the United States. This is not in- 
tended to apply to politics alone. In literature, etiquette, 
social life, philosophy, and even theology, there have been 
the two extremes. On the one hand have been the people 
affected with Anglo-mania; on the other, those suffering from 
Anglo-phobia. Of course, all are not affected equally with 
the one or the other of these diseases. There are degrees 
in this, as in nearly everything else. The first extreme is rep- 
resented by Dorman B. Eaton; the second is (or, rather, was 
before reason was dethroned) represented by George Francis 
Train. The first tries to reproduce England in giant minia- 
ture, if that is not a contradiction of terms; the second burns 



26 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

everything " from Ens^land but her coal." The one is a 
mimetic ape; the other a raving mad-man. There is, between 
the two, a golcfen mean. 

It is this mean we shall endeavour to strike in speaking of 
England's colonial possessions. In the extent of these Eng- 
land resembles Rome more than in any other respect. The 
study of the two systems, and a parallelism drawn between 
the two, might furnish work for a life-time, and a comparison 
between them is a striking illustration of the superiority of 
Christian over pagan civilization. 

It is hard to find, even in the Autocrat of All the Russias, a 
stronger example of an absolute despot than was the governor 
of an ancient Roman province. He united in his person the 
three primary elements of all government — the legislative, 
judicial and executive. The Roman citizen only possessed 
the right to appeal to Cffisar, from the decision of the provin- 
cial tyrant. The speech of Honourable William E. Glad- 
stone, upon the Don Pacific© case, depicts this privileged 
class in its true light. Then the distinction between subject 
and citizen was even more marked than now. To be a mere 
subject of Rome meant few of the rights of modern citizen- 
ship, except the onerous one of paying taxes, from which the 
citizen was exempt. The relative judicial rights of the pro- 
vincial subject and citizen can not be better illustrated than in 
the trials of Christ and Paul. The former was apprehended, 
twice hurried from one jurisdiction to another; summarily 
tried, put to the torture, condemned and executed — all in the 
short space of twelve hours. On the other hand, Paul, the 
fortunate native of a free city, saved his back from the tor- 
turer's lash by the talismanic sentence: " I appeal unto Ciesar." 

Rome acquired her provinces through the double avenue of 
conquest and bequest, or device by will. Thus Carthage, 
Sicily and Gaul were conquered; while Bythinia, Cyrene and 
Egypt were bequeathed. After the acquisition of any prov- 
ince the first thins: which Rome souirht was the destruction 



THE yoRTJr- WEST. 27 

of anything like political unity. She vveeded out, with a jeal- 
ous hand, every hnperiufn in hnperio. The Achaian League 
was abolished. Such a thing as a provincial senate was un- 
known. The few exceptions which existed under the empire 
may be characterized as mere umbrae parliatnentorum^^ — to 
paraphrase the expression of Tacitus in regard to one of 
Rome's client princes. Rome treated a conquered province 
exactlv as the late Charles Sumner desired to treat the south- 
ern states of the American Union after the Slave-holders' 
Rebellion — like so many acres of land, and so many millions 
of people. In the case of Macedonia, disregarding ancient 
land-marks, Rome divided the province into four arbitrary 
and isolated fractions, forbidding the inhabitants of different 
provinces to intermarry, or even to hold landed property in 
more than one of the four provinces. It was the usual cus- 
tom to give a province to a bankrupt political hack, in order 
thai he might retrieve his lost fortunes with rapine and pillage. 
Such extravagances as characterized Hastings and Eyre, and 
excited the just condemnation of the civilized w^orld, were the 
day's doings with Roman proconsuls. 

In the provincial government of Great Britain there is much, 
perhaps, to criticise, but censure will be reserved for the nonce. 
It is true, that in the frontier provinces of Her Britannic 
Majesty the three functions of government are not well-de- 
fined. Then, too, in the North-West Territories, by legis- 
lative enactment — or, rather, by judical interpretation there- 
of, — the common-law right of a trial by twelve jurymen is 
denied. The right of the defendant in a criminal case, to be 
tried only upon the presentment of a grand jury, has also 
been denied to persons charged with the commission of of- 
fenses, in these territories by the same interpretation. As 
has been stated before, the light of a trial by jury has been 
absolutely dispensed-with, in certain cases, some of them 

* Shadows of rarliaments. Umbra regis, shadow of a king, is the vigorous 
expression which Tacitus puts in the mouth of Cwsennius Patus. — [^;;«., xv., 6. 



28 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

offenses of a grave character; and in such cases the stipendiar\' 
magistrate is empowered to try the alleged offender in a sum- 
mary manner. At first blush, this seems almost like Oriental 
procedure; but we should learn not to judge of things too 
hastily. The expression: Trying a man for murder before 
a justice of the peace and six jurymen, does sound ridiculous, 
indeed; and the idea of a justice of the peace (for the term 
" stipendiary magistrate " is unknown to us) trying a poor 
devil summarily for horse-stealing, embezzlement or felonious 
assault is shocking to us who have been trained from child- 
hood to revere the jury system, and speak of it as the '*• pal- 
ladium of liberty," " the birth-right of freemen," and-so-forth. 
Yet, as Judge Taylor, of the Queen's Bench of Manitoba, 
wisely said : 

"Of this argument against any change being made in rights and privileges 
secured by old charters and statutes, a great deal too much may be made."* 

It should be remembered, that the stipendiary magistrate of 
the North- West Territories is not the justice of the peace with 
whom we are fatriiliar — that is, the man who keeps a dog- 
eared copy of the Revised Statutes., and holds court in the 
back part of his harness shop. The stipendiary magistrate 
must be a barrister-at-law, or an advocate of five-years' 
standing. 

But the jury reduced to six is surely a terribly dangerous 
innovation. Is it not? There is, in the minds of the best of 
men, a lurking, occult superstition as regards certain figures. 
Three, seven and twelve, and their multiples are mysterious 
numbers. The labourer in the hay-field is stung by a bumble- 
bee; and he catches up three separate weeds or grasses, and 
rubs them upon the injured part. It is practically almost im- 
possible to select three herbs without finding one containing 
alkali. The alkali neutralizes the acid from the bee. Had a 
chemist selected one of the three, the one which contained 
the alkali, the result would have been ditto. To the unlet- 

* Queen against Riel, Manitoba Law Reports, Vol. II., No. ii, page 331. 



77//-; XOJi' 77/- 1 1 'J:S7\ 1,'!) 

tcicd rustic, however, the mystic numher is the all-powerful, 
indisj^ensible requisite. So of the number twelve; there were 
twelve tribes of Israel, twelve apostles, twelve tables, and 
there are twelve months in the year, and twelve signs of the 
Zodiac. As the origin of the jur}' system is lost in the ob- 
scurity of the Middle Ages, it is impossible to give any rea- 
son why the particular number twelve was fixed upon, aside 
from the fact of magic in the figures. If a large number of 
men are more certain to arrive at a correct conclusion than a 
small number, why not make it one hundred, instead of twelve? 
One thing is certain : lynch law is almost, or quite, unknown 
in the Xorth-West Territories. This is not our experience 
in the States. A friend* once remarked, in substance, that a 
crowd of regulators would seize upon a poor wretch, torture 
him into accusing himself of a crime, and hang him upon this 
confession, when if a rescue had been accomplished, and a 
jury selected from the same crowd, they would have listened 
to the vapourings of some pettifogger; and closed the farce by 
acquitting the defendant. Talk with any member of a band 
of regulators, and he will plead, in justification, the law's 
delay. Better summary justice to the guilty, than a farcical 
acquittal, or, 

" That worst of tyrants, an usurping crowd.'' 

Any western lawyer with experience in criminal i^ractice 
knows, that in exercising peremptory challenges on behalf of 
his client, in a criminal case, he does not pay more attention 
to nationality than to some other things, which the free- ma- 
sonry of the profession forbids mentioning. Thus is the 
ancient glory of being tried by one's peers departed. The 
author is not advocating the abolition of the jury system. Far 
from it! But, as Judge Taylor has said: A great deal too 
7nuck may be said of rights granted by old statutes and 
charters. 



Milton McLaughlin, of West Point, Nebr. 



30 THE BLOOD ()F AUKL. 

Rome denied her dependencies provincial senates. But 
England grants to Canada a parliament with plenary powers 
of legislation. Rome extorted, by taxation, from her prov- 
inces the entire expense of her home government. England's 
principal colonies regulate their own revenue; and Eng- 
land supports her home government. Rome laboured to 
destroy political unity in her provinces; Great Britain makes 
a federal republic in all but name for her North American 
dependencies. Rome had a privileged class who could appeal 
unto Ciesar ; that class were the Quirites. England's colonies 
contain a like privileged class; but in the latter case it is not 
the Anglican Quirites, so to speak; but it is, rather, men 
charged with capital crimes. The exceptional outrages of 
v^diich England and Englishmen have been guilty, were, in 
Roman provinces, not the exception but the rule. 

Formerly all that j^ortion of British North America bounded 
by the United States and Canada West (Ontario) on the 
South; by Canada East (Quebec) and Labrador on the East; 
by Hudson Strait and the Arctic Ocean on the North; and by 
Russian America and the Pacific Ocean on the West, was 
under the dominion of the Hudson Bay Company, a corpora- 
tion existing by virtue of a royal charter from Charles H. of 
England, in the year 1670,10 Prince Rupert, the hare-brained 
madcap vv^ho lost the battle of Marston Moor, as first presi- 
dent of the Hudson Bay Company, and fourteen others and 
their successors. Under the title of " the governor and com- 
pany of adventurers of England trading into Hudson Bay," 
there were granted to them, by such charter, the sole trade 
and commerce of all those seas, straits, bays, rivers, lakes, 
creeks and sounds, in whatsoever latitude they shall be, that 
lie within the entrance of the straits commonly called Hud- 
son's straits, together with all the lands and territories upon 
the countries, coasts and confines of the sea, bays, lakes, 
rivers, creeks and sounds, aforesaid, not previously granted. 
This countrv was denominated Rupert's Land; and was so 



Tin-: son rii- 1 \ 'est. 31 

designated on the maps for two hundred yeai!;, as all of us 
who studied geography previous to the year of grace 1870, 
know full well. The company was, by the charter, invested 
with the ownershijD of the soil, and with governmental pow- 
ers within the region designated. 

Construed in the light of its terms, and with respect to 
previous grants, there were grave doubts as to the right of 
the company to all the territory named; but they claimed 
such right; and, as they grew rich and powerful, they as- 
serted their claim successfully. 

Westward of the territory originally named Rupert's Land 
was that portion of British North America embraced with- 
in the Arctic and Pacific slopes. This was called the Indian, 
and afterwards the North- West, Territory. In the year 
1 82 1 the North- West Company was merged in the Hudson 
Bay Company ; and the government granted the latter a 
monopoly in this territory for twenty-one years. A new 
license was granted, for the same period, in 1838. This 
latter expired in 1859. But the company, paying no at- 
tention to that fact, continued to exercise the franchise, 
though possessing no special privilege in the premises. 
Such was the condition of things up to the series of events 
hereinafter related. The history of the Dominion can 
never be written without a large space is given to Thomas 
Douglas, fifth earl of Selkirk, whom Professor Bryce ranks 
with Baltimore and Penn as one of the great triumvirate 
of American colonists. This truly great man was born at 
the family seat, Saint Mary's Isle, a peninsula (formerly 
an island) at the mouth of the estuary of the Dee, which 
river empties into Sol way Firth, in June, 1771. It was this 
family seat which was pillaged by John Paul Jones and his 
reckless followers during the American Revolution. Selkirk 
died in France, at the age of forty-nine years. 

To give anything like a history of Lord Selkirk's settle- 
ment would require more space than can be devoted to so in- 



32 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

teresting an espisode. The task has, ah-eady, been ably per- 
formed by Professor Bryce, in his valuable work: Manitoba: 
Its Infancy^ Growth., and Present Condition. For the pres- 
ent purpose, let it sufHce to say, that, in the year iSi i. Lord 
Selkirk, at his own expense, fitted out a colony of High- 
landers from Sutherlandshire, with a slight reinforcement of 
Sligo Irish, who were landed at York Factory, on the coast 
of Hudson Bay, at the mouth of Nelson River; and, 
during the spring following, were settled in the valley of 
the Red River of the North. Here the name of their gra- 
cious patron has been preserved in the nomenclature of the 
region. 

The narrative of this little colony's life is one of the sad- 
dest chapters in the history of the world. In 1816 the mas- 
sacre of Keldonan — most foul, fit to be named with Glencoe 
and Fort Pillow, differing only in degree from the bloody 
crime of Saint Bartholomew — was perpetrated, the victims 
being most innocent. From the relation of this tale, so revolt- 
ing to every lover of his kind, the author begs to be ex- 
cused. 

About ten years thereafter came, successively, the triple 
plagues of the Rocky Mountain locust; the mice (scarcely 
less destructive), and the terrible deluge of 1S37. During 
the winter of 1826 and 1827 the inhabitants of this region 
suffered beyond measure. 

One of the most affecting incidents to which the author's 
attention has ever been called is related by the historians of 
that time. A woman was found dead with an infant on her 
back within a quarter of a mile of Pembina. ''The poor 
creature must have travelled at least 125 miles in three days 
and three nights." As we think of this heroic mother goaded 
with the hope of succor, toiling through cold and darkness, 
now sinking in despair, now roused by the pleading of her 
little one to a renewal of the unequal struggle for life, anon 
uttering words of cheer and promises of help to her darling 



77//; XORTJf- WI'^ST. 



83 



baby, as she pursues her course with the energy born of des- 
pair, and, at last, sinking down to die in sight of the haven 
she sought, what husband and father of us can think of it 
with dry eyes? 

Leaving history here, let us pass to biography. 



The Blood of Abel, 



PART THE SECOND. 



Civis Anglicanus Erat. 




LOUIS RIKL. 



THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 



Part the Second. 



REBEL KIEL. 



" In men whom men condemn as ill 
I find so much of goodness still, 
In men whom men pronounce divine 

I find so much of sin and blot, 
I hesitate to draw a line 

Between the two, where ( iod has not." 

— [Joiujuin Miller. 

T, OUIS RIEL* was born October 32, 1844,7 ^^ Saint 
^ "^ Boniface, Rupert's Land, on the western bank of a small 
creek which runs into the Red River from the East, a little 
North the site of the present city of Winnipeg. This stream 
is called after that historic river the Seine. The subject of 
this sketch was the son of Louis Riel, senior, and Julie dc 
Lagimaudiere.;}; The house in which the child was born was a 
small, one-story, straw-thatched, log structure, containing but 
a single room. A saw-mill now stands about three rods North 
the historic spot. Louis was the eldest of eleven children, 
live of whom, with the mother, survive him. 

Louis Riel belonged to the " Metis" or half-breed race. He 
was what they call in northern New England a French-Indian. 

* Pronounced as though spelled Re-yell, with the accent on the last syllable. 
t The Annual Cyclopedia for 1885, obituary " Riel," states that Louis Riel was 
bom 1847. This shows of what stutT cyclopedias are made. 
% Variously spelled. 



38 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

Riel once told a gentleman in New York, that he had traced 
his ancestors from Sweden, successively, to Germany, France, 
Ireland, and, finally, to Canada. The name, he said, was 
originally spelled Riegal. He was the authority for the 
statement, that the Scandinavian form of the name was the 
jDatronymic Rielson.* 

Louis Riel, junior, was the fifth in descent from John Bap- 
tist Reckhill, (for so the name was Hibernized-j-), a native of 
Limerick, Ireland, who migrated to Canada in the last decade 
of the seventeenth century ; and settled in what is now the 
province of Quebec. In the year 1705 this John Baptist 
Reckhill, or Riel, at He Dupas, diocese of Montreal, married 
Louise Cotta, aged twenty years, daughter of Francis Cotta 
and Joan Verdon. Six sons were the fruit of this union, and 
they all bore the surname of L'Irelande. The eldest received 
his father's name Frenchified, and was known as Jean BajDtiste 
Riel De L'Irelande. He was baptized at He Dupas in 1705. 
One hundred and five years thereafter his grandson, bearing 
the same name, minus the De L'Irelande, left the parish of 
Bertheir for the North-West. Here he married a half-breed 
woman; and, in the year 1817, they had a son born and bap- 
tized at Crossing Island, in the south branch of the Saskatche- 
wan, within the limits of the present district bearing that name, 
and near the seat of the late Half-breed War. This child 
was named Louis, and was the father of the Riel of history. 

Louis Riel, the elder, was a man of ability and enterprise. 
He built the first grist-mill, driven by water, in the North- 
West. The history of this achievement is remarkable. The 
streams of Manitoba were all either too large or too small for 
the purpose. The Red and Assinniboine came under the 
first head. All the tiny creeks tributary to these were to be 
classed under the second. What was to be done? Farquhar 
called Necessity the mother of Invention ; and his words have 



* Kiel's speech objecting to the sentence. See the Blue Book. 
t A word coined by the author. 



REBEL I! I EL. 39 

crystallized into a proverb. The Seine emptied into the 
Red River at Saint Boniface, ami running parallel with it, or 
nearly so, was another tributary of the Red called Graisse 
Creek. The indefatigable half-breed conceived the idea of 
connecting these two little streains--absorbing the Graisse in 
the Seine, and, thereby, augmenting its force to a mill-driving 
capacity. In order to accomplish this it was necessary to cut 
a channel nine miles long. Considering the knowledge of 
engineering required; the limited means at command, and the 
uncivilized state of the country, this achievement was won- 
derful. Cyrus diverted the waters of the great river Eu- 
phrates into an artificial lake by a similar devise. He did it for 
the purpose of sacking a city, and slaying its inhabitants. The 
simple half-breed sought to give bread to the eater. The name 
of the general is immortal; that of the miller is forgotten. 
But so it will ever be as long as mankind honour the destroyer 
of a kingdom above the benefactor of a community, and the 
incendiary more than the architect. As a jurist Napoleon de- 
serves to rank with Justinian ; but the Code Napoleon stands 
in the shadow beside Marengo, Jena and Austerlitz. 

So even in the case of so humble man as the elder Riel. 
It was as an agitator and partisan leader that he was chiefly 
famous. The reader of the first part of this volume will 
recollect the absorption of the North-VVest Company by the 
Hudson Bay Company. The first of these was organized in 
Montreal, and was essentially a French institution. The 
French half-breeds were linked to it by tics of race and lan- 
guage. On the other hand, after the union, the dominant 
comp.iny, which had Scotch officers and was totally Scotch, 
was disliked by the French- Indians. They chafed under its 
rule. It was an unkind, domineering step-father. The extent 
of its jurisdiction was doubtful, but its assumptions were great. 
It was the child of favouritism. The very charter to which 
it traced its existence, was the gift of an ignorant and profli- 
gate king, to a cousin who must be provided-for. The forced 



40 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

construction put by the company upon its charter involved 
the right to lands in which the Merry Monarch had about 
the same title as had the Devil in kingdoms offered to Jesus 
Christ, The Hudson Bay Company was a giant monopoly. 
It monopolized everything, even the commerce of the coun- 
try. The half-breeds were free-traders. The American 
frontier was too near, and the opportunity for gain too great 
to allow of any restrictions. In 1844 the company issued an 
order threatening to refuse transportation, in its boats, of the 
goods of any person trading on his own account. On the 
20th day of December, 1S44, when the infant Louis lacked 
two days of being two months old, the company assumed the 
surveillance of the mails, and the right of searching the house 
of any person suspected of trading on his own account. The 
French half-breeds refused to submit. The Imperial Gov- 
ernment was invoked; and, in 1S46 four hundred soldiers 
were sent to Fort Garry, the company's post at the conflu- 
ence of the Assinniboine and Red Rivers, to preserve the 
peace. 

The year 1848 was the jubilee of political agitators. Philo- 
sophical revolutionists, like Mazzini; patriotic rebels, like 
Kossuth ; political iconoclasts, like Bakounine sprang up, of 
one accord, all over Europe, like the armed men, after the 
sowing of the teeth in the classic tale. The Pope fled, a fugi- 
tive, to Gaeta. Louis Philippe's throne crumbled and fell. 
The truth of Shakspere's words : 

" Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," 
came home to the heart of every monarch of Europe. Vic- 
toria was no exception. In this year, of terrible experiences, 
all but sixty of the troops at Fort Garry were recalled. 

In the year 1849 William Sayer, a French half-breed, was 
arrested, and lodged in jail, for trading on his own account. 
Three others were arrested shortly afterwards, but were re- 
leased on bail. The elder Riel summoned his race to form a 
\igilancc committee, for their protection against the company. 



REBEI. niEL. 41 

This was done. Sayer was to be brought to trial on May 
the seventeeth, Ascension Day. On that day the half-breeds 
attended mass, at the cathedral in Saint Boniface; and then 
fifty of them crossed the river to Fort Garry. They were 
organized; and ready for fight, if necessary. Major Cald- 
well, acting governor of the company, was officiating magis- 
trate, assisted by one Thorn, an Englishman, imported by 
Lord Durham, for the purpose of being employed by the 
company. Before such a tribunal the defendant had small 
show. Major Caldwell graciously informed the half-breeds, 
that a committee of them would be allowed to assist Sayer in 
his defence. In response to this invitation Riel entered the 
court-room, with twenty of his followers, armed to the teeth, 
and prepared to render the most substantial assistance. The 
main body remained outside. The prosecution closed their 
case, when Riel sprang to his feet; and declared Sayer ac- 
quitted. A loud yell from the half-breeds, within and with- 
out, greeted this announcement. In vain the magistrates 
protested, and asserted their authority. They could not cope 
with the rebels. Riel compelled the company to restore to 
Sayer the goods taken from him; to compensate him for his 
loss, and trouble; and to proclaim free-trade throughout the 
colony, and Louis Riel, senior, and his swarthy band, had to 
thank the political fire-eaters of Europe, who made it neces- 
sary to recall the troops, in 1848. From the hour of his tri- 
umph to the day of his death the elder Riel was the champion 
of his race. Financially his life was a comparative failure. 

He died in 1864; and his body rests in the Catholic cemetery 
in vSaint Boniface. No bard has sung the praises of this re- 
markable man. But, during the long winter evenings, man}' 
an aged half-breed makes the night less long with the story 
of his exploits in defence of his despised clan. Near his last 
resting-place the passing traveller might pause and fittingly 
repeat those beautiful lines from Gray's Elegy, too often 
(luotcd to need repetition here. 



42 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

It is not intended to write anything which may be called a 
life of the younger Riel, a sketch is all that will be attempted. 
The author believes, that, before the reader closes this book, 
its object will sufficiently appear; and a simple sketch is all 
that is necessary. 

Louis Riel remained at Saint Boniface, from the date of 
his birth until the year 1858; and it was here lie received the 
rudiments of his education. 

In narrating the life of a historic personage, cute anecdotes 
are always in order; and woe be to the sacrilegious iconoclast 
who dares to declare them apocryphal. George Washing- 
ton's cherry tree, and Robespierre's wet stockings will always 
be associated, the one with the name of the best, the other 
with that of the worst of men. Tell, man or myth, shot the 
apple from the head of his child. It is a pretty story; and, 
as with the nursery-tale of Santa Claus, we look back with 
regret to the first time we heard, that it was untrue. We 
have no love for the person who told us this piece of bad 
news; and associate him with the man who first announced to 
us the death of a dear friend. 

The life of Louis Riel, if it is ever w ritten, will not be 
wanting in these little anecdotes. 

It is related of him, that, at school, he was aggravated by 
another boy who wanted to fight him, when he said : "You 
want to fight, do you? W^ell, I will go and ask my father, 
and if he tells me to fight, I will meet you," It would be 
well, if every boy would adopt the same rule, providing al- 
ways, that each one had as good a father as had Louis Riel. 

The elder Riel was far above his position in life. He de- 
sired to give his eldest son a liberal education. But his means 
would not allow it. Dame Fortune, however, raised up a 
friend, in the person of the Right Reverend Bishop Alexan- 
der Tache, the present archbishop of St. Boniface. This 
eminent prelate, and distinguished scholar found a patron for 
the boy, Madame Masson of Terebone, at whose expense he 



UEllEL III EL. 43 

was, in the year 1858, sent to the Jesuits' collep^e, at Montreal, 
where he remained seven years— until the spring of 1865. 
Here he completed his classical course. It is to be presumed 
that his school life was that of most students. 

One affecting incident is related of him. He had a class- 
mate for whom he contracted a lasting affection. The attach- 
ment was mutual. It was like the friendship of Damon and 
Pythias; even as the love of David and Jonathan, amiable 
above the love of woman. His friend was stricken down of 
small-pox. The attack was sudden ; and the form malignant. 
Louis refused to leave him; and could not lie driven or torn 
from his side. He remained faithful to the last. Before 
death the poor youth awoke from his delirium; and bade his 
faithful watcher a last farewell. 

Whatever may be said of some incidents to be hereinafter 
related, one loves to turn from their contemplation to this 
affecting incident in the school-boy life of Louis Riel. 

After finishing his college course, Riel remained one year 
in Montreal, when he went to Saint Paul, Minnesota, where 
he was, for a time, engaged as a clerk in a store. Archbishop 
Tache, in a letter to the author, thus briefly epitomizes the tale 
of his life for the next three years: 

" He tried in the West all sorts of business, and failed to secure any success. 
In 1868 he came back to his native land, and remained with his family until 
the trouble of 1809." 

Here we may be said to have passed the preliminary part 
of this little volume; and to have reached that portion of our 
work which bears less remotely upon the object of this book. 
Now, reader, let us have a perfect understanding, at the 
threshold. No justification of Louis Riel will be attempted. 
If his conduct is to be condemned, the author will leave that 
condemnation to the reader. For the purposes of this vol- 
ume, it will be necessary to give a brief sketch of his public 
career which began in 1869. In giving such a sketch inci- 
dental comment can hardly be avoided. But the author begs 



44 THE BLOOD OF A 11 EL. 

the reader to consider any opinions unwittingly lietrayed by 
such comments as what the lawyers call obiter dicta., not 
binding upon the judgment or conscience of anyone, save the 
author. 

In the year 1867 the parliament of Great Britain passed 
what is known as the British North-American Act. This 
statute received the royal assent on the first day of July. By 
this act authority was given to create the province of Mani- 
toba. It was shortly after this, that Fate, that stern arbiter 
of men and nations, forced a transfer of Rupert's Land, by 
the Hudson Bay Company, through the Imperial govern- 
ment, to the Dominion of Canada. To borrow a figure from 
Macaulay, the Hudson Bay Company had been to the North- 
West Territories what leading-strings are to a child. But, 
at this era, the child had out-grown the auxiliary. Like a 
selfish parent, who can not realize the growth of its offspring, 
the company tried to continue its control past its child's free- 
dom day. 

It is said that Chinamen have a way of dwarfing a pine 
tree till it will grow inside a flower-pot. It was a similar 
process which was tried in the North-AV^est by the Hudson 
Bay Company. But, unlike the case of the Chinamen and 
the pine tree, it failed. It was Dame Partington vainly bat- 
tling with Atlantic Ocean. * 

The mania for mendacity seemed to seize every member 
and emplovee of the company like a contagion. Even good 
men, like Sir George Simpson, represented the country as 
unsuited for agriculture; and fit only for trappers and fur- 
traders. 

By the surrender of its governmental powers the company 
got rid of an uglv question, involving the extent of its juris- 
diction. The question was pushing itself into the arena and 
demaildinof a solution. 



* Since writing the above I have learned for the first time, that Mercer Adam 
jniploys the same hackneyed figure. 



R Eli EL HI EL. 45 

By the terms of the transfer the company released all 
governmental jurisdiction over the territory; and all pro- 
prietary interest in the soil, excepting certain reservations 
made. 

In the latter part of 1869 a formal deed was executed by 
the Hudson Bay Company, ceding this vast territory, over 
2,300,000 square miles in extent, in consideration of less than 
$1,500,000 of American money. The grantors reserved all 
stations and trading-posts in actual possession at the time of 
the transfer. There is, in this country, a tract termed the 
Fertile Belt. This belt contains over three hundred mill- 
ions acres. The company withheld the title to only one- 
twentieth of these lands, the reservation to be specified when 
the lands were surveyed and blocked-out for settlement. 
The deed also provided that all land titles conferred by the 
company up to May 8th, 1869, should be confirmed; and 
that the Indian claim, or title, should be liquidated or ex- 
tinguished by the purchasers. Considering all this in com- 
parison with the magnitude of the grantor's claim, it looks 
like a small price. But, viewed as a matter of legal right, 
or even substantial justice, the affair has a different appear- 
ance. 

In regard to this transfer, the people of the purchased 
territory were not consulted. They were naturally anxious 
in regard to the situation. 

At the session of the Dominion Parliament held for 1869, 
in Ottawa, an act was passed providing a provisional go\ern- 
ment for the acquired territory. 

The Dominion act provided, that the colony should be 
governed by a Lieutenant-Governor and Council in which 
the people of the province had no choice. 

In October of that year. Honourable William Macdougall 
was appointed the first Lieutenant-Governor. 

Previous to this. Colonel Dennis had been sent out by the 
Dominion Government to suiierintend the survey of the lands 



46 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

in Assinniboia.* Now the half-breeds claimed a certain inter- 
est in the lands which were at the time of Colonel Dennis' visit, 
not transferred. The reasoning, in support of their claim, was 
not bad. The Indian right in the soil, was something which 
had always been recognized by both Great Britain and the 
United States. Courts might call that right by whatever name 
they saw fit; but its existence had always been recognized as 
a legal entity which was the subject of purchase. Upon racial 
grounds their right in the soil was something derived from 
their swarthy mothers. Then, too, the new-fangled survey 
would seriously disturb old land-marks. The French half- 
breeds in laying out their lands, had followed the method so 
familiar to anyone who has been in the Province of Quebec. 
Each man's piece had been laid out in a long, tongue-like strip, 
with a narrow frontage, whether upon street or river. The 
reason for this was two-fold. It was the social nature of the 
Celt, combined with the gregarious or tribal proclivities of 
the aborigines, developing in a desire to be near their neigli- 
bors. Furthermore the newness of the country required that 
the settlers be as near together as possible for mutual protec- 
tion. 

Everyone, even Lord Macaulay's school-boy, if he is alive, 
has read the story of Louis Kiel placing his foot upon the 
surveyor's chain, and ordering him to desist. Authentic or 
otherwise, it is one of those dramatic little incidents, like 
Fizarro drawing the line in the sand, or Cato dropping the 
figs from the fold of his toga, which if not believed will 
always be told, 

"To point a moral, or adorn a tale." 

It was not, however, Louis Riel who caused the uprising in 
1869. That uprising was spontaneous. 

The author is not writing history, therefore only a brief 
summary of facts will be given. Upon the approach of Hon- 
ourable William Macdougall, appointed Lieutenant-Governor 

* A district corresponding nearly with the present Manitoba. 



REBEL BIEL. 47 

of Assinniboia, the French half-breeds formed a committee, 
with John Bruce as President; and Louis Riel as Secretary. 
Riel was the real leader, and this position was forced upon 
him by virtue of daddyism. The purpose of the half-breeds 
was to prevent the entry of the Lieutenant-Governor into the 
country, until some guarantee could be obtained, that the rights 
of the settlers would be respected. 

It will be borne in mind, that the charter rights of the 
Hudson Bay Company were franchises, or parts of the royal 
prerogative, granted to the company ; that, as such, they had 
to be handed back to the crown to enable the latter to trans- 
fer them to the Dominion. The Canadian government, 
therefore, agreed to pay the purchase money; and the Im- 
perial government became security for the amount. The 
day fixed for the final transfer was the first of December, 
1S69. As will be seen, when Governor Macdougall arrived 
at Pembina, in October of that year, he was preceding his 
authority by several weeks. The insurgents, who then num- 
bered less than John Brown's raiders, at Harper's Ferry, built 
a barrier across the road which led from Pembina to Fort 
Garry and the then village of Winnipeg. Tiie doughty Gov- 
ernor stopped at the frontier, like a drunken husband met 
at the threshold of his domicile, by his vixen spouse who 
forbids him the house until he comes home sober. He alter- 
nately domineered, raved, whined and begged. He extem- 
porized a royal proclamation which excited contempt when 
the fraud was discovered. He appointed Colonel Dennis his 
deputy, who, if possible, made a bigger ass of himself than his 
principal. Then the Governor grew conciliatory, and wrote 
Riel a letter, which was condescension itself. Finally, meeting 
nothing but rebuff, Macdougall threw up his commission; 
and returned to Ottawa a disgraced and humiliated man. 

While this gubernatorial aspirant was knocking at the 
door of his inhospitable province, the province itself was un- 
dergoing a radical change. In times of political revolution 



48 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

events crowd each other in rapid succession. On the 2nd day 
of November the insurgents seized upon Fort Garry, tiie coni- 
uany's post, at the junction of the Assinniboine and Red Rivers. 
On the twenty-fourth day of that month a provisional govern- 
ment was organized with Bruce as President and Riel as Sec- 
retary. The President afterwards resigned in favour of Riel. 
The original design was to have a council of twenty -four 
members, twelve French ; and twelve English. On the 8th day 
of December, the date of the convening of the Vatican Coun- 
cil, a declaration similar in verbiage and sentiment to the his- 
toric document bearing date July 4th, 1776, save in its abjura- 
tion of allegiance, was issued by the new governn'ient. This 
action alienated the English-speaking people, who were never 
afterwards fully reconciled. 

Wearisome details are not germane. Only a few salient 
points will be touched upon. 

On the 22nd of December, Riel seized and opened the 
Hudson Bay Company's safe; and appropriated its contents, 
amounting to a large sum in cash. This proceeding has been 
denounced as an act of robbery. But Riel's conduct, in this 
affair, will compare favourably with the conduct of John 
Brown at Harper's Ferry. A party of Brown's men, led by 
Alexander D. Stevens, demanded and took Colonel Washing- 
ton's watch. After his capture. Brown was questioned in 
regard to this affair, and stated, in terms, that he intended to 
freely appropriate the property of slave-holders, to carry out 
his purpose; but that to enrich himself by plunder was not his 
object. Riel evidently had a like purpose. He intended 
to make restitution, or force the Dominion to do the like, as 
a condition precedent to reconciliation. For he attempted first 
to negotiate a loan with the company. When refused this, 
he resorted to force. When he took the money a memoran- 
dum was left with MacTavish, the company's accountant. No 
one believes John Brown to have been a robber; neither was 
Louis Riel. 



B Ell EI. lilEL. W) 

Early in the rebellion, Riel had captured Dr, Schultz and 
forty-four other English speaking colonists. Most of these 
were released through the humane efforts of a Miss MacVicar. 
But Schultz escaped. There is little doubt, but that this 
scoundrel, through one Shawman, alias George Racctte, a 
reprobate half-breed, tried to bring upon the settlement the 
horrors of an Indian war. Be this as it may, he was largely 
responsible for all the trouble in Rupert's Land. He deserved 
death; but escaped it. But, on the seventeeth of February 
a far more important capture was made. Major Boulton and 
forty-seven men were taken prisoners. These were of the 
English or Canadian partv, who were in arms against the 
provisional government. The commander was tried; and 
condemned to die; but subsequently pardoned. 

Ten days prior to this capture Riel had been elected Presi- 
dent of the new provisional government, with Thomas Bunn, 
Secretary of State; William B. O'Donoghue, Secretary of 
Treasury, and Ambrose Lepine, as Adjutant-General. Yet 
at no time, before or after the capture, did the insurgents re- 
nounce their allegiance to the Queen, or profess anything but 
loyalty and affection for their sovereign. They occupied a 
position similar to that occupied by the colonies at the time of 
the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. Certainly, if Sam- 
uel Adams and John Hancock were patriots, Louis Riel and 
William B. O'Donoghue might claim the name. Up to this 
stage there is much to commend and little to condemn in the 
conduct of Riel and his followers. They had seized the 
company's property, but they were forced to do this. War 
can not be maintained without finances. The insurgents had 
kept a strict account of all property so taken. If they com- 
promised with the Dominion, it was their intent to make 
the government reimburse the company. Though the con- 
duct of Riel and his followers had sometimes been warped by 
necessity, and strained by the force of circumstances, yet it 
was in the main to be excused, and even to be justified. But 
4 



50 THE Ji LOO I) OF ABEL. 

for what follows, the leaders of the Half-breed Revolt might 
rank with Bolivar and Sucre. Would to God, and for their 
sakes, that the record might stop here! But the truth must 
be told, Alas! there is now to be related an event which has 
become sadly historical, and historically sad. 

Among the prisoners captured with Major Ijoulton was a 
surveyor, who had been sent out by the Dominion government, 
named Thomas Scott, an Ontario Orangeman. This man, like 
many public characters, was sentimentally one thing and his- 
torically another. He has served his purpose, as the hero of 
more than one dime novel. Scott has been painted as a mod- 
ern Leaniler — the embodiment of chivalry and devotion. It 
has been written that Riel loved Scott's Hero, and hence what 
will be related anon. But it is not only with the novelist that 
Thomas Scott has been a favourite, but with the so-called his- 
torian, that is to sa\-, the chronicler of the Genus Froude. 
Mercer Adam says: 

"Thomas Scott, a young English-speaking Canadian, it seems had become 
obnoxious to Riel in the colony, by his somewhat effusive loyalty and a rather 
reckless disregard of his own life. As an Orangeman, the Fenian flag on Fort 
Garry, to this sturdy Briton, was a hated symbol of disloyalty and an irritating 
emblem of rebellion. Scott's blood boiled at the sight of the flaunting flag, and he 
became a bitter and out-spoken foe of the Catholic usurpers of the government. 
Captured once by Riel, he refused to acknowledge his authority, and, escaping, 
defied it. Captured a second time, Riel found him confirmed in his contumacy, 
and he determined to reek his spite upon him. He ordered a court-martial of 
his own choosing, to try his victim, but took care to hear no defence, to allow 
him no counsel, and to keep him in ignorance of the crime of which he was ac- 
cused. He did not even know the language and purport of the proceedings 
that were taken against him. The mock trial occured on the evening of the 3d 
of March, 1870, and lasted a little over two hours. Its finding was fatal ; Scott 
was sentenced to be shot at ten o'clock the next morning." 

"The sentence fell on the incredulous ears of Riel's victim, but was im- 
pressed* by the grim humanity of the offer to send for a clergyman. On the 
fatal morning, the clergyman — the Rev. George Young — secured two hours' 
respite for the condemned loyalist, so as to obtain time to summon those who 
would intercede for Scott's life, or if unsuccessful, to prepare the unfortunate 

* According to Adam's syntax, the sentence received the impression. 



in: hi: I. h'lr.L. .-,i 

for death. No intercession availed; Kiel's Mack heart was obdurate; and his 
victim's death was loo sweet revenge to forego it. At noon, in the court yard 
of Fort Garry, the revolting scene, the tragic horror, took place ; Scott was in 
very truth shot down like a dog, and like a dog was buried."* 
Professor Bi yce says: 

"With the object apparently of awing the other inhabitants into submission, a 
Canadian named Scott was barbarously shot by the Rois-brules, under the guise 
of a public execution. "t 

Rainbaut, an American author, referrincj to Riel, says: 
".■\t length he went so far as to order the shooting of a young Orangeman, 
Thomas Scott, against whom he had a personal grudge."J 

Alexander Begg comments on the affair as follows: 
"Oh ! shame on the spirit that prompted such an act I Was Mercy blind ? Mad 
Justice fallen asleep, and Wisdom turned her back upon the men who thus un- 
hesitatingly steeped their hands in blood ?''i< 

Leaving fiery romance, and floral rhetoric, with a passing 
denial, let a few facts be related. Thomas Scott appears to 
have been a person of violent passions, and arbitrary temper. 
Like all of his order, he was Hlled wMth racial hate, and re- 
ligious prejudice. He had once upon a time been fined, along 
with others, for an assault upon one Snow, their employer, 
from whom the assailants had extorted concessions, under 
threats of ducking. As the fine was paid, Scott expressed 
his regret, that they had not immersed Snow in the river. 
For then they would have got their money's worth. Scott 
had murdered a man nained Parisien. He was one of the 
prisoners released at the request of Miss MacVicar, upon 
parol, that is upon his solemn oath, that he would not again 
take up arms against the provisional government. The 
caitiff had not only broken his parol, but he had aided Schultz 
in trying to incite the Swamp Indians to go upon the war-path. 
After his recapture, he was restive and furious, conducting 
himself more like a mad -dog than a rational and accountable 
being. Upon one occasion he took a board from the jKirtition 
next his cell, with which he intended braining aii\- person 

* Pp. 205-6. t Page 307. J Page 148. § Page 301. 



52 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

who should enter his prison. His fellow prisoners took this 
from him, yet his seditious conduct was acting upon the less 
prudent ones like a contagion. Under the direction of Riel 
and his council, Scott was tried by a drum-head court-martial; 
convicted and condemned. Ambrose Lepine, Kiel's Adju- 
tant-General, anxious to avoid blood-shed, offered to allow 
Scott to return to Ontario on condition of never afterwards 
setting foot within the Red River country. This offer was 
spurned, and Scott replied to proffered clemency with taunts 
of cowardice, as he chose to term the conduct of the chiefs 
in sparing the life of Major Boulton, a man of equal courage 
with Scott, and of far greater prudence. He told Lepine, in 
so many words, that the half-breeds dare not carry-out the 
sentence. He said, further, that if released the first use he 
would make of his liberty would be to kill President Riel. 
Finally, at the expiration of a brief respite granted for spiritual 
reasons, the unsubdued Orangeman was led out to his doom. 
Till the last moment he appears to have expected a reprieve. 
Wiien the guards came for him he first realized his situation. 
The execution was under the personal direction of Lepine. 
Scott was made to kneel near the postern gate. A party of 
six men were his appointed executioners. The hardy Briton 
was less affected than many of his slayers, some of whom 
are said to have uncai^ped their guns before the order to fire 
was given. If Scott lacked all the other cardinal virtues, he 
certainly possessed that of fortitude. He fell pierced by sev- 
eral bullets, killed outright. Then the body was placed in a 
coffin and carried into the fort. It is claimed that even then 
he was still breathing, but this is a fiction. Afterwards the 
Protestant Bishop INIackray visited Riel, and begged the body, 
to give it Christian burial. For obvious reasons this was 
denied. These things gave rise to the belief that Scott was 
not killed, but only wounded; and led many to think that 
he would yet turn up alive. This was a delusion. The body 
of the unfortunate young man was consigned to an unknown 



grave. It was conjectured that the corpse was thrown into the 
river, but its resting-phice will never be known till the sea 
gives up its dead, and the slayer and slain confront each other 
before the Searcher of All Hearts. If the reader desires to 
see this act of Riel condemned as "a mock execution,"" "a 
cold-blooded murder," and-so-forth, he can consult any work 
upon the subject in the English language. That Riel thought 
he was doing right, there is no doubt; but his opinion of the 
act is no defence. If honesty of purpose can be pleaded to 
justify an action intrinsically wrong, what condemnation is 
there for Torquemada or Leo the Isaurian ? Saint Paul styles 
himself the chief of sinners; yet he says, that he conversed in 
all good conscience while persecuting Christians even unto 
foreign cities. When Thomas Paine was in the Luxembourg, 
in hourly expectation of death, he remembered \\ ith satisfac- 
tion that he had published an unclean libel on Christianit}-, 
which he had given to the world with an honest purpose. 
There can he no manner of doubt that Scott deserved a death 
more ignominious than a militar}- execution — the doom of the 
gibbet. The author has been, and ever will lie, an uncom- 
promising foe of the jurisiliction of Judge Lynch. To mur- 
der a man because he has committed an infamous crime is luit 
the compounding of felony. A government of doubtful ju- 
risdiction should be chary of its authority. It may be aigued 
that Kiel's government was a lawful one, because the Ilutlson 
Bay Company in that region was a mere usurper; that the 
transfer of the francliise by the sovereign to the Dominion 
had not been accomplished when the Honourable William 
Macdougall entered the country ; that, as the Queen, who was 
but the personilication of legitimate sovereignity,* had failed 
to provide a lawful government for the people, the adminis- 
tiative "powers, incapable of annihilation," had reverted to 
the people for their exercise. So Riel, as a representati\ e of 
the people, was not a rebel, not e\en a revolutii'nist. 
* Guizoi's Hisiorv of Civilization. 



54 THE BLOOJ) OF ABEL. 

But aside from that, it might be further said, that Riel had 
the legal authority to take Scott's life, under the God-given 
right of self-defence, the first law of nature ; that if he allowed 
him to live, there was danger of mutiny, and of destruction 
to the provisional government; that if it was his right to 
establish such a government, it was his solemn and bounden 
duty to defend it when established. There is much force in 
this reasoning. The strongest argument against Kiel's course 
with regard to Scott is based upon the plea of expediency. 
The shooting of Scott was like the beheading of Charles Stu- 
art. The act itself was just, though, perhaps, illegal and pos- 
sibly impolitic. Washington condemned Andre, and denied 
him even a soldier's death, dooming him to the halter. Scott 
had no counsel ; neither had Andre. If, as Mercer Adam states, 
Scott was not informed of the crime with which he was 
charged, it was because he did not care to know its nature. 
If the trial was conducted in a strange tongue, it is no more 
than is happening ever}' day, in the case of foreigners, without 
thought of an}' protest. Scott was given what Andre was de- 
nied ; he was shot, like a soldier. Andre was hanged like a spy. 
The statement that Scott's body was consigned to an unknown 
grave, at first blush, seems cruel to his friends. But God did 
the same with the body of Moses, of whose sepulchre " no 
man knoweth until this presentday." The reason for conceal- 
ing his body, as before stated, is obvious. If the bones of 
Thomas Paine, ten years after death, caused such a rout as to 
justify the massacre of Peterloo, Riel was right in avoiding 
the occasion of an armed rising, by concealing the body of 
Scott. It is all the difference whose ox is gored. Britons de- 
nounced Washington as severely as they have Riel. Had the 
colonies been unsuccessful, Washington would have been a 
condemned traitor, instead of an immortal patriot. T'hen 
would historians have denounced the act of Washington, as 
they have that of Riel. 

Joseph Riel, brother of Louis, in a letter to the writer. 



in:iii:L ini:L. .->-> 

under date of May 9, 1SS7, gives a full and comprehensive 
explanation of the causes which led to the death of Scott, 
The letter is in French. The following is a translation of a 
portion of it: 

" Let anyone put himself in the place of those chiefs, ami of the youny man 
of 25 years, called iiy his nation to the presidency of a government at its most 
critical moment ; let him consider all the circumstances ; and the irritating 
opposition made to them ; and he will be astonished, that they exercised so 
much clemency. " 

Never ditl British historians essay a more ,Sis\])hean task 
than this same attempt to produce a martyr from the raw ma- 
terial of a hardenetl, a reckless though intrepid ruffian. 

Riel complained, that, although he had obtained free insti- 
tutions for Manitoba, he was forgotten as though he were 
(lead. But for this one sad act, he would have li\cd an hon- 
oured life, the recognized champion of his despised race, and 
left a name scarcely second to William Tell. And yet his 
act was to be excused, if not justified, and would ha\e met 
with universal approbation, but for the fact that Scott was an 
Orangeman. 

If it is right, that the Muse of History should castigate 
Riel for his treatment of Scott, the muse should be impartial, 
just and equal in her chastisements. In the words of Macaulay : 

" There should be one weight and one measure. Decimation is always an 
objectionable mode of punishment. It is the resource of judges too indolent and 
hasty to investigate facts, and to discriminate nicely between shades of guilt.'"'-" 

For example, Louis Riel is condemned for the shooting of 
Thomas Scott, but let us instance a few other cases. 

Alexander, misnamed the Great, ordered a hole to be made 
through the heels of Belis, under the tendon of Achilles; and 
a rope to be passed through the hole; and, with this rope 
tied to a chariot, he caused the brave general to be dragged 
around the walls of Gaza, until he was dead, for no other 
crime than loyalty to his sovereign. This royal madman 
afterwards boasted, that, in this affair, he had imitated Achil- 

* Essay on Byron. 



56 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

les, who treated Hector when dead, as he had treated Betis 
while living. This he-goat of Macedon, also caused Par- 
menio, the ablest, bravest, most faithful and most conservative 
of his generals to be butchered without the pretense of a trial; 
and without other testimony than a confession extorted, by 
the rack, from the craven lips of his recreant son. Alexan- 
der tortured a philosopher to death who had the courage to 
tell him the truth. In a drunken fit he stabbed to death his 
life-long friend, the brother of his own tender nurse. Con- 
cubinage, drunkenness, arson and sacrilege were among his 
lesser faults. The only good achievement of which he could 
claim the undivided glorj' was the taming of a wild horse. 
And yet this demoniacal wretch, beside whose cruelties the 
crimes of Nero and Robespierre pale into the insignificant, 
is pictured, by historians, as a divine hero, the pathfinder of 
Christianity, who paved the way for the Apostles. 

Napoleon shot a Bourbon prince who approached his bor- 
der; denied him counsel at his trial: and the consolations of 
religion in his last moments. Then with the phlegm of a 
a Thug, characterized the crime as washing- himself in the 
blood ot a Bourbon. Yet Napoleon found an apologist in a 
staid New England divine. 

In the year 1843 Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, when in 
command of the brig Somers, had on board a stripling, of 
eighteen years, whose head had, probably, been turned by 
reading piratical romances. This boy related to a shipmate 
a cock-and-bull story about a conspiracy to kill the com- 
mander, to take the brig, and convert her into a pirate. The 
valorous captain did not deem himself safe until the bo}- 
Spencer, and two seamen, Cromwell and Small, were dangling 
at the yard-arm — condemned on about the same modicum of 
testimony, as suited the requirements of Mackenzie's royal 
namesake in the case of Parmenio and Philotas. \'et a court 
of inquiry, made up of distinguished naval commanders, with 
Old Ironsides, the grandfathei" and namcsd<e of Charles 



liKliEL niKL. 57 

Stevvait Parnell, as a member, exonerated Mackenzie. His 
government afterwards honoured him with an important com- 
mand. 

Lieutenant Alpheus W. Greely,of Arctic celebrity, ordered 
one of his men to be shot, perhaps justly, for eating too much 
dinner; and failed to make an ofHcial report of the shooting 
until it had already, become a matter of public notoriety. Yet 
his conduct in the affair has never been made a matter of 
judicial investigation. His statement, ejr-/ar/^, has been re- 
ceived as gospel truth. He has been Jeted by the world, and 
the present incumbent of the White House, has appointed 
him to a position scarcely second in importance to the post of 
cabinet minister. 

Alexander, Napoleon, Mackenzie and Greely are heroes. 
But Riel is — what? 

While the rebellion was in progress the Right Reverend 
Alexander Tache, Bishop of Saint Boniface, was at Rome, 
iittending the Oecumenical Council, assembled in the Aula of 
the Vatican. A cablegram summoned the good pastor from 
the preparation of the short catechism, and the constitution 
De Fide CathoUca to undertake a winter voyage, across the 
Atlantic. For upward of a half century this sublime and de- 
voted man had laboured in the North- West. From an oblate 
of the Immaculate Conception, in 1843, he had risen to the 
episcopal dignity. His people knew him; and they loved 
him. Deserving and possessing the confidence, at once of his 
people, and of the Dominion Government, this noble jjrelate 
wasj above all others, the man to quell the present unpleasant- 
ness. The politicians had failed. They turned their e) es 
toward Rome; and in the attitude of Ethiopia, beckoneil the 
only man who could turn oil upon this troubled sea. The 
Bishop came. At once a true patriot, and a faithful shepherd, 
he knew that his people had wrongs. But true to that holy 
patriotism which the church inculcates, he had ever taught 
them, that the powers that are, are ordained of (Joel. Render 



58 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

to CiEsar the things that are Ciesar's. But cursed be he who 
removeth his neighbour's land-marks. The Bishop came with- 
out any political commission in his pocket. Yet he brought 
with him memoranda and lettei's of an official nature. There 
was given to him by the Canadian government that unwrit- 
ten authority most binding amongst men of honour. Such 
as governs our presidential electors, and regulates love affairs 
between people with honourable intentions. The arrival of 
Bishop Tache in the settlement was a new era in the history 
of this most awkward tlifficulty. On the 13th of March he 
preached at Saint Boniface. The church was crowded. He 
counseled moderation; assured his people of the good will of 
the administration at Ottawa; said it was time for the Catho- 
lic and the Protestant to lay aside their religious differences 
and work for the common good. The effect of this sermon, 
and of a speech afterwards delivered before the council, was 
like magic. Quiet was in a measure restored. Riel at once 
released half of his prisoners, including Major Boulton. The 
Bishop had, indeed, triumphed. He had paved the way for 
the bloodless victory of Garnet Wolseley, that doughty hero 
of many unfought battles. England has been, during the last 
century and a half, distinguished for her cheap military heroes. 
Indeed, she has not furnished a general of the first order of 
merit since the days of Marlborough. The reader will re- 
member that Wellington was an Irishman. 

Garnet Joseph Wolseley was an Englishman, born near 
Dublin, Ireland, June 4, 1833, to which place his family had 
removed from Staffordshire. His father was a major in the 
English army. The boy was educated at a private school. 
At nineteen he entered the army with the rank of ensign. He 
served in the Burmese and Crimean wars. In the latter he 
was wounded and received a plaster in the shape of a badge 
as knight of the Legion of Honour. He served during the 
Sepoy Rebellion and the crusade to force opium upon China. 
WMiether or not this chivalrous knight ever tied sepoys to 



REBEL EI EL. 59 

the mouths of cannon and blew them into eternity, history 
has failed to record. It is altogether likely that he did. Such 
acts were done by the British, and their cruelty would be con- 
sistent with Wolselev's career elsewhere. Then, too, he was 
made a brevet lieutenant-colonel for his services during the 
Sepoy Rebellion. He has received greater promotion for 
services less meritorious. He was afterwards I3eputy Quar- 
termaster General in Canada, which post he held for several 
years, being attached to the 90th Foot. When, at last, the 
Macdonald Government resolved upon war. Garnet Wolseley 
was selected to lead the British forces to the capture of Fort 
Garry. In this campaign not a shot was fired. Yet the cap- 
ture of any empty fort was sufficient to earn for Garnet J. 
Wolseley the right to preface his name with " Sir." This val- 
orous knight afterwards distinguished himself in the Ashan- 
tee war, and against the Zulus. During the Nile expedition 
to the vSoudan, against El Mahdi, Wolseley signalized him- 
self by cutting down palm trees, filling up wells ; and thus 
destroying oases in that desert country. To charge him with 
vandalism would be a libel upon Aleric and Albion. Sir 
Garnet's greatest achievements have been against naked sav- 
ages. It would be difficult to find a man more thoroughly 
identified with every outrage which England has perpetrated 
during the last thirty-five years, which is sufficient to make 
his career during that period anything but an enviable one. 
This competent military critic has seen fit to express himself in 
very disparaging terms of the military career of General Grant. 
Before entering the country Wolseley sent by a secret agent 
a conciliatory proclamation to the people of Rupert's Land. 
This document simply stated, in substance, that Her Majesty 
had resolved to station some troops in the country. From its 
terms it could not be considered a war measure in any sense 
of the word. Riel himself assisted in the printing and cir- 
culating of this proclamation; to show his loyalty he had 
hoisteil the Union Jack above Fort Garry. On the sugges- 



m THE BL OOI) <) F A II EL. 

tion of Sir George Etienne Cartier he was allowed to govern 
the country from June 24, 1870, to the date of the occupa- 
tion of Fort Garry by Garnet Wolseley. Whatever designs 
others may have had, there c:an be no doubt but that through- 
out the entire difficulty Riel had remained steadfastly loyal 
to his sovereign. He was actuated by the purest of motives. 

Before the approach of the troops Archbishop Tache went 
to Canada; for what purpose was left to conjecture. Some 
said to obtain an amnesty for Riel, O'Donoghue and Lepine. 
But when in the month of August England's goreless cham- 
pion arrived, no amnestv was proclaimed. The trio remem- 
bering that the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel, refused 
to trust the clemency of Sir John A. Macdonald. Wolseley 
intended to come upon the Fort in the night-time, but a rain 
prevented. He arrived the next day. As he entered the 
fort at one door, Riel and his two comrades left at the other. 
At one time the pursurer and pursued were only three hun- 
dred yards apart. A ferry crossed the Assinniboine by means 
of a hawser; this was cut, probably by Riel, to prevent pur- 
suit. Riel and his two companions crossed the Red River. 
From the banks of Saint Boniface, the Sarsfield of the North- 
West watched that capture of a garrisonless fort, which was 
to lift the deputy quartermaster to be the first military hero 
of a first-class war power. The quartermaster was elated with 
his \ictory. What the feelings of the partisan chief were 
can never be told. Boabdil looking down upon Granada from 
the pass of the Alpuxarras would hardly furnish a parallel. 
Both were fugitives, but Boabdil departed a broken and a 
ruined man, while Riel, paradoxical as it may appear, Bed a 
\ict()r from the scene of his triumph. The trio turned their 
horses toward Pembina, whence Riel went to Saint Joseph. 

The life of Louis Riel during the next fourteen years will 
never be written. Its history would be more diversified than 
the romance of Gil Bias, and hardly less entertaining. But 
it is not the task which the author has essaved. 



REBEL BIEL. 

On the 2d of September, 1S70, Archibald succeeded Mac- 
dougai!, as Lieutenant-Governor. Though Archbishop Tache 
had pledged the honour of the administration for the am- 
nesty of all offences, including the murder (?) of Scott, yet no 
amnesty was granted. In the year 187 1 the Fenians were 
planning a raid upon the Dominion. They were in Pembina. 
Wherever Kiel's sympathies may have been, he showed a 
firm purpose to keep faith with the government. Lieutenant- 
Governor Archibald called Riel from obscurity; and jjledged 
him protection. The old leader came forward, like the regi- 
cide, in New England, during King Philip's War. He was 
the man, of all men, who had the ear of the French-speaking 
people of the province. Kosciusko was hardly more to the 
Poles of Napoleon's time, than was Louis Riel to the half- 
breeds of Manitoba. It was as though Andrew Jackson had 
risen from the dead, and was surrounded by the men who 
fought under him at Horseshoe Bend. Riel raised a body of 
two hundred and fifty men. The Lieutenant-Governor ac- 
cepted Riel's services; and reviewed his troops. He e\eii 
praised his loyalty. But how was that loyalty repaid? And 
how was the promise of protection kept? Hardly was the 
danger past when, in the early days of October, a reward of 
five thousand dollars was offered for the arrest of Riel. The 
promised amnesty was never proclaimed until April, 187^, 
and when it came it found Louis Riel an outlaw, so declared 
seven months before upon a judgment entered because of his 
failure to appear and answer an indictment which charged no 
offense whatever.* 

In the year 1872, an election was about to take place. The 
administration were anxious to have Riel out of the country. 
In the month of February Archbishop Tache visited the ex- 
chief at Saint Vital; and tried to induce him to leave the 
country. Through the personal influence of the man to whom 

*I refer the reader to Appendix B for the form of this indictment; and to 
Bouvier's I.aw Dictionary for an explanation of the meaning of " Outlawry." 



62 THE JiLOOl) OF Am: I.. 

he owed everything;, Riel was induced to accept, as an in- 
demnity, foui- hunch'ed pounds — three liundred for himself, 
and one hunched for his family — and leave the countrv. This 
he did probably with ahout the same thought as Jugurtha left 
Rome. The money received by Riel, at this time, has been 
called corruption money. If so, it reflects as little credit on 
the donor as upon the receiver. But Riel's account of the 
affair, as well as his subsequent conduct, shows that he did 
not so regard it. 

For more than a century American children have been 
taught to regard Paulding, Williams and Van Wart, the cap- 
tors of Major Andre, as honest patriots. But there is more 
evidence of their corruption than there is against Riel. 

Public opinion forced Riel's return from exile, and he was 
present at the election. He w^as a candidate for Parliament. 
His election was conceded. Sir George Etienne Cartier was 
beaten in Montreal, by one Jette, Riel was asked to stand 
back for Sn* George to be returned for Provencher, as the 
district was called; and he did so. It was about this time, that 
Judge Dubo christened Riel "David;" and, afterwards, Riel 
used the name. The record of his naturalization bears the 
signature " Louis David Riel." This name was bestowed 
upon him because, like the second king of Israel, he hid him- 
self away from those who sought his life. 

Riel was thrice returned to Parliament. The first time in 
October, 1S73, by acclamation. It was during this campaign 
(as we Americans would call it), that agents of Sir John A. 
Macdonald sought out the ex-chief skulking in the woods, 
awaiting his election to Parliament. Most politicians are cynics ; 
and Sir John A. Macdonald was no exception. The great 
premier had a supreme confidence in, as he had a sovereign 
contempt for, the venality of mankind. Sir John's agents 
offered Riel $35,000 to leave the country for three years. 
They told him, further, if that was not enough, to state what 
he wanted. They offered to pay his expenses to Europe, or 



RF.UEL RIKL. 63 

to any part of the world. But this man, whom his enemies 
have charged with being a venal mercenarv, refused the 
offer. 

Riel was returned again in January of the following year. 
At this time the feeling in Ottawa was intensely against him. 
The public furor was at fever heat, because of the shooting 
of Scott. He did not attempt to sit in Parliament, In the 
month of March he appeared suddenly and mysteriously in 
the clerk's room at Ottawa, signed the roll of membership, 
in that characteristic autograph, never to be mistaken; and 
then he vanished like an unsubstantial pageant of a \ision. 

On the i6th day of the following month he was expelled 
the House, by a vote of 124 to 68. Many, wiio voted " aye " 
on that memorable day, and even at other times urged the 
extradition of Riel from the United States, as a murderer, 
have since attempted to rebuild their party edifice, with the 
scaffold of Regina for the chief corner-stone. He was re- 
turned for the last time in September, 1S74. 

In the year 1875 Riel was banished for five years. During 
this time he resided nominally in the United States. In the 
year 1874 we hear of him at Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 
where he spent a week with an aunt. In the autumn of 1875 
we find him in Washington, wdiither he had gone recom- 
mended to Major Edmund Mallet. A friend who saw him 
about this time, thus describes him in a letter to the author: 

"Riel was, in every way, a perfect gentleman. Repossessed talents for 
leadership found in but few men. He was born a liberator. William O'Brien 
now in Canada appears to me to be such a man as Riel was. He was one of 
those most polite men I ever knew. His conscience was as lender as a sister 

of charity's The man was not of the world. He was like a monk in 

it; except that he was like a true knight when the question of the Metis people 
was involved. " 

At the time Riel came to Washington he considered him- 
self absolved from every obligation to the Dominion, that 
government having refused amnesty to Lepine, and violated 
other pledges. The object of his journey, and the then con- 



64 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

stant labour of this enthusiast, was to wrest Manitoba from 
the Dominion. 

Excessive toil, bitter disappointment and galling poverty so 
wrought upon his sensitive nature that reason was dethroned. 
He had come to Washington with one thousand dollars, the 
donation of a wealthy Canadian. In the space of several 
months he had given this, piece-meal, to a blind Italian beggar 
who sat daily in front of the Presbyterian church on Ninth 
street. Thus was this high-minded and generous patriot re- 
duced at once to madness and penury in a strange city. But 
God provided a friend. Riel was possessed of the delusion 
that he must die for the salvation of his race. Major Mallet 
took forcible possession of his person. But finding him 
moneyless, he was compelled to borrow cash from Father 
Keane, now Bishop of Richmond, to remove the unfortunate 
North, Riel remained for nineteen months at the Beauport 
lunatic asylum in the province of Quebec. 

His ailment was megalomania. This word is not found in 
the dictionaries. It is derived from two Greek words, meg-ale^ 
great, and ?nania, madness. It is a most peculiar and decep- 
tive form of insanity. Its victim might easily pass for a sane 
2Derson amongst the unobservant. The person afflicted with 
this mental disorder imagines himself charged with some greac 
mission and altogether a most important person. 

Riel was incarcerated under the name of La Rochelle. He 
remained under the treatment of the medical superintendent. 
Doctor Francis Roy, until he had recovered. He was dis- 
charged from the asylum January 2i, 1S78. Doctor Ray 
found his case a most peculiar one, and one requiring careful 
treatment. To this gentleman Riel confessed his true name. 

The American Annual Cyclopaedia for 1885, insinuates, that 
Riel might have been confined at Beaupart for the purpose 
of concealment. Such an insinuation betrays the extreme 
stupidity and ignorance of the writer. Riel was placed in the 
asylum by the provisional government, upon the certificate of 



REBEL RIEL. 65 

its examining piiysician. The laws there are very strict to 
prevent the incarceration of persons other than actual lunatics. 
Major Mallet of Washington, considered him insane at that 
time, from actual personal knowledge. The opinion of this 
intelligent Christian gentleman is worth that of one hundred 
of Sir John A. Macdonald's mercenary sycophants. 

On the discharge of Riel from Beauport Ayslum he revis- 
ited Washington, and related his treatment, as an insane pa- 
tient to his alter ego, Edmund Mallet. His second sojourn 
at the capital was less protracted. There can be little, if any, 
doubt, that his recovery was complete. In 1878 he appears 
as a farmer at Saint Joseph, Minnesota, where he remained 
about a year. In 1879 he removed to Montana. Here he 
married a half-breed girl named Marguerite Bellimense, by 
whom he had two children. The first of these, John, was 
born May 9, 1882, in a prairie home on the banks of the Mis- 
souri. This son, though " born in the United States and sub- 
ject to the jurisdiction thereof," was the child of an alien. 
The father, with characteristic delicacy, had refused to become 
an American citizen while his term of banishment continued. 

Afterwards he declared his intention to become an Amer- 
ican citizen. In the month of March, 1883, he applied to the 
district court of the United States at Helena, Montana, and 
on the sixteenth day of that month he became a citizen. Levi 
Jerome and E. L. Merrill (full Christian name unknown) 
appeared as witnesses. 

During the same year Riel removed to Saint Peter's Mis- 
sion, abandoned trapping, by which he had gained a preca- 
rious livelihood, and settled down to school-teaching, under 
the direction of the Jesuit fathers. It was at this place that his 
little daughter, Mary Angelica, was born, September 17, 1883. 

As the last part of this volume will be devoted to Riel, 
considered as an American citizen, perhaps there is no better 
time than the present at which to estimate the man in the 
abstract. 
5 



()6 THE BLOOD OF A IIEL. 

The usual method of weighing pubHc characters is to adopt 
as a standard, or unit of measure, some person who has passed 
into history. Burton says that comparisons are odious. Ben- 
jamin F. Butler put it milder: " Analogies are ever false and 
illusory." A comparison drawn between different men is 
often ridiculous and too often disgusting. 

For example, we have the strolling renegade, John Baptist 
Clootz, comparing himself to the great Scythian, Anacharsis, 
and even assuming his name. The assassin of Abraham 
Lincoln likened himself to William Tell. A certain would- 
be historian tried to compare the fiasco at Fort Garry to the 
surrender at Sedan, which occurred eight days later, and 
thought Garnet Wol^eley a Von Moltke. There was once a 
man who could trace in Andrew Johnson a resemblance to 
Cato. The trustees of Washington College, Virginia, have 
linked the name of Robert E. Lee with one that is a synonym 
for purity, patriotism and justice throughout the world. This 
is about as appropriate as would be the coupling of the names 
of Absalom and Robert Bruce. When Horatio Seymour, a 
very respectable gentleman of no ordinary ability, was nomi- 
nated for president of the United States, some newspaper cor- 
respondent compared him to Cicero. James Anthony .Froude, 
the miserable apologist for England's misgovernment of Ire- 
land, thought Julius Caesar resembled Jesus Christ. This is 
the man who called Daniel O'Connell an empty demagogue. 

Such comparisons have not been wanting in the case of 
Louis Riel. Why not? They serve to round-off a period. 
But truth, and not rhetoric, is the object of this little book. 
Riel has been compared to John Brown, to Rochejaquelein, 
to the Young Pretender, and to everybody else whom he did 
not resemble. Such analogies are the resort of oratorical his- 
torians who are too lazy to delineate character, 

A friend says that Riel was Joan of Arc and Fontiac com- 
bined. This comparison is a nearer approach to justice than 
any it has been the author's good fortune to hear or to read. 



in: III: I. hiel. (i? 

The truth is, that every man has his separate iiuli\ iduality, 
and there is seldom anv real resemblance between men of dif- 
ferent nationalities or even separate families. Two distinct 
particles of matter can not fill the same space; two distinct 
characters can not act the same part in the drama of human 
history. Could we approach the Milky Way its stars would 
become distinct entities; the space between them would widen 
until what resembles now a fleecy cloud would be a vast sys- 
tem of worlds, or, perhaps, a myriad of systems, with almost 
inconceivable space between its rolling orbs. So, too, with 
individuals. We may see two men who appear to be alike 
in every particular. Inspect them more closely and the like- 
ness departs. Alexander and Charles XII. ; Cicero and Burke ; 
Washington and Epaminondas; Clootz and Train, each and 
all, were men of distinctive individualities, resembling each 
other at a distance; but appearing unique in their personal 
characteristics upon a closer inspection. 

Rochejaquelein and Charles Edward were, each of them, 
relics of a defunct royalty; while Riel was the champion of a 
despised race. Riel will, undoubtedly, fill a space in Can- 
adian history similar to that of John Brown in American his- 
tor}'. Yet Napoleon said that history it but a series of lies, 
agreed upon. John Brown was an illiterate man of few 
words, who, whatever may be said of his judgment, had not 
about him one scintilla of selfishness. Riel had received a 
classical education; was somewhat loquacious; and was actu- 
ated, in main, by the most generous of impulses. 

The position which Riel is entitled-to in history; and his 
relations to the government under which he lived, resemble 
those of Ethan Allen. Both these men fought for the rights 
of settlers to their land; each contended against a horde of 
grasping land pirates who were fostered by England; whose 
entire law of tenantry is but a barbaric relic of feudalism; 
each was made a prisoner, and, too, while leading French 
Canadians against British soldiers. Each of these founded a 



68 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

provincial or state government, though not a nation. Riel 
contended for what was, not only a just claim, but a plain 
legal right. Allen fought for what was just, but he met with 
force and chastised "with twigs of the wilderness" officers, 
charged with the enforcement of the decree of a court. Both 
Allen and Riel were successful. But the latter died as a con- 
demned traitor; the other has been justly honoured by having 
his bust placed in the old hall of representatives as one of two 
whom Vermont delighted to honour. Both Allen and Riel 
speculated with religion. Aside from Allen's peculiar I'eli- 
gious views, and his outrageous profanity, there is little in 
his life which does not excite our enthusiastic admiration. 
Riel's private life was free from vices. For one public act 
he has been condemned. Unfortunate, indeed, is he who, at 
twenty-five years of age, rises from the position of a grocer}- 
clerk to be the ail-but despotic ruler of his people. But fort- 
unate does he become who, having thus risen, commits but 
one act of folly, great though that folly be. 

The Encyclopaedia Britannica, in its article, " Red River," 
devotes less than a dozen lines to Louis Riel and his life 
work. It runs as follows: 

" At the transfer of territorial jurisdiction to the Canadian government in 1869 
the Bois-Brules, under a certain Louis Riel, (son of a Frenchman who had 
built the first mill on the Red River), revolted and declared an independent 
republic* Colonel (now Lord) Wolseley was despatched with a force of 1,400 
men and without bloodshed took possession of Fort Garry on the 24th of 
August, 1870. The only striking feature of the expedition was the remarkable 
energy with which the difficulties of transportation were overcome. Riel in 
1885 became the leader of another unsuccessful insurrection of half-breeds in 
the same region." 

At first blush it would seem an easy task to write history. 
But experience shows the twelve labours of Hercules to be 
lighter. Look back at the foregoing account of Riel from 
the Encyclopaedia. Then compare it with another account. 

* Untrue, as the reader will remember. It is thus that Tory England, after 
choking a man to death, lies over his corpse. 



liEliEL lilEL. m 

There was once a man named Tacitus. He was a great 
man too. He wrote the history of the reign of an emperor 
called Nero. In his account of the fire in Rome which oc- 
curred during that reign, the historian, speaking of the Chris- 
tians, says: " The author of that name was Christ, who, Ti- 
berius, being emporer, by the Procurator Pontius Pilate, 
suffered death."* Thus, with a single dash of the pen, did 
the wisest man of his day and generation pass by a name 
which it would be blasphemy to compare with any name 
given under Heaven or among men. Tyrants can make 
laws; they can hang, and they can crucify, but the chroniclers 
who record their deeds can not make history. 



Tacitus, Anna/., XV,, 44. See, too, Carlyle's Essay on Voltaire. 



R^^- 



The Blood of Abel, 



PART THE THIRD. 



CITIZEN RIEL. 



Civis Americanus Fuit. 



THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 



Part the Third. 

CITIZEN RIEL. 



" Is man like a vegetable, a fossil, that he must belong to a bed of loam, or 
marl, just as he happens to originate? " — \^Hugh Henry Bracketiridge. 



SALLUST and Saint Luke have perpetuated two ora- 
tions, the greatest of their kind. The one was spoken 
by a judge to his associates; the other by a prisoner, with 
chains on his hands. When the question of punishment, in 
the case of the Catilinian conspirators, was before the Roman 
Senate, Ciesar addressed that body. His speech on that occa- 
sion is, with the single exception of Paul's defence before 
Agrippa, the finest forensic arguinent on record. The great 
Roman began his address as follows: 

" It behooves all men, O Conscript Fathers, who deliberate concerning doubt- 
ful matters, to be free from hatred, friendship, anger and pity."* 

Thus doth it become one to be who would speak upon the 
case of Louis Riel. 

This is no party pamphlet. The writer speaks as an Amer- 
ican to Americans. On the i6th day of November of the 
year 1885, Louis Riel, an American citizen, was hanged at 
Regina, in the North-West Territories, within the Realm of 
Iler Britannic Majesty, for high treason against the crown 
and dignity of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. The 

* Sallustii Belluui Catilinarium, LI. 



74 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

attention of President Cleveland and Secretary Bayard was 
called to the facts, but they refused to act in the matter. The 
Secretary of State did not consider the matter of sufficient 
importance to be mentioned in his annual report. Was this 
inaction of the United States government justified by the facts 
in the case? The solution of this problem is the subject be- 
fore us. 

For the purpose of this volume it boots little that Louis 
Riel was Catholic or Protestant; that he was of French or 
of Germanic, or of Indian, or of Irish, or of Swedish extrac- 
tion ; that he was patriot, fanatic, imposter or madman. For 
such purpose, it matters not whether he be considered a John 
Brown, a Count Cagliostro, an Anacharsis Clootz, a Don 
Quixote, a George Francis Train, or a William Tell. One 
proposition is beyond cavil: He was, at his death, an Amer- 
ican citizen. That undisputed fact stamped upon him a dig- 
nity which neither race, religion, character or condition could 
obliterate. Civis Americanus fuit. Forget all beside. 

Whether it be termed a freak of Nature, or one of her laws 
of which men talk" much and know nothing, it is, in either 
event, a continuously recurring fact, that offspring do not par- 
take in equal proportion, of father's and mother's character- 
istics. Though always resembling both, in a certain degree, 
the child will bear the likeness of one more than the other. 
Mulattoes show more strongly the peculiarities of either Af- 
rican or Caucasian; Zambos of Negro or Indian; and half- 
breed of Caucasian or aboriginal. There are few exceptions 
to this rule. vSo it may be regarded as a part of the law of 
Hereditary. Some of the half-breeds of the North- West, 
from their fair complexions, Celtic features and suave de- 
meanor, might easily be mistaken for Frenchmen; while 
others have the physical and mental characteristics of their 
squaw mothers. Even the educated Indian, whatever his 
opportunities to embrace civilization, has, almost without ex- 
ception, gravitated to the //// and the breech-clout. Samson 



(irrzEx rh:l. 75 

Occom, the Whittielil of the forest, returned to the native 
savagery of his race, hke a tlog to his vomit. 

After the revohition in Manitoba, there were many striking 
examples of this. The rebels had secured the concession of 
their demands. The government issued negotiable land- 
scrip. The Celtic half-breeds settled down, in their new 
province, to agriculture and quietude. Hut the nomadic ones, 
Esau-like, sold their scrip to speculators; and, finding them- 
selves crowded by advancing civilization, moved to the wild 
West, and joined friends and relatives who had gone before 
in trapping the beaver and hunting the buffalo. Thus, upon 
the banks of the Saskatchewan, principally along its south 
branch, between its confluence with the northern and a point 
upon the southern branch, in line with the elbow in the north 
branch, there grew up a settlement of half-breeds who were, 
nearly all of them, immigrants from the country along the 
banks of the Red and Assinniboine. 

In western America civilization makes gigantic strides in 
a few years. It would be hardly exaggeration to say, that 
the buffalo is as much a thing of the past as the mastodon. 
Trapper tales read like the story of Romulus and Remus. 
Most of the half-breeds in the Saskatchewan country accepted 
the inevitable. They settled down upon the land which, as it 
was remote from civilization, no one wanted. It is a strange 
but true paradox, that poverty is the father of property. 
There can be no property in air because there is plenty of it, 
equally distributed all over the world. It is a truism of the 
Common Law of England, that there can be no property in 
water. This is true simply because, that, wherever that law 
has prevailed, there has been plenty of water. But England's 
law of land-tenure and landed estates is the mostcomj^lex part 
of her jurisprudence. VV^hy is this? Because her territory is 
small and densely populated. Her people are land-hungry. 

When the patriarchs inhabited Syria, land, except in the 
civilized portion, was worth nothing. Metes and bounds 



76 THE Ji LOO I) OF ABEL. 

were unknown. The only recorded land purchase is the sale 
of the double cave as a burial-place for Sarah. But the serv- 
ants of Isaac and Gerar strove for the possession of two 
wells. 

So in the primitive days of the North- West, land was plen- 
teous. To use the vernacular of the West, the half-breeds 
" squatted upon claims." They cleared away the forests, 
tore up stumps; removed the rocks; ploughed the earth, and 
made the desert to blossom like the rose. After they had 
built themselves homes in the wilderness, the coal-beds of 
the Saskatchewan were discovered to be profitable. Then 
came capital. The resources of the country, in forest, field 
and mine, began to develope. Thereupon came the land- 
sharks. The "squatter's " rights were disregarded. Syndi- 
cates and monopolists seized upon the lands. The settlers 
had followed the Quebec rule, in laying-out their claims. 
The merciless surveyor blocked-out the lands in sections.* 
By such a survey the division of every half-breed's claim 
was a physical certainty. If he got to the land office before 
any other man overreached him, he might secure one part of 
his farm; upon the whole of which he had worked, like a 
slave, for many vears. 

Put yo.urself in the half-breed's place. Imagine yourself 
ousted of your farm by the brainless spawn of an eff'ete and 
emasculated aristocracy. The spade must give way to the 
eye-glass. We all know what English syndicates, composed 
of lords' bastards, have done in our own country, in the line 
of land robbery. We have had a press which has been free 
and loud in its utterances, especially in those quarters where 
such a course would secure the most votes. Yet, with due 
regard to exaggeration, it can not be denied, that English 
land-grabbing in the United States has been a burning shame. 
Yet we could write; we could speak; we had a president 
who respected the riglits of a homestead-entry man, with a 

* In the West, a section means a S(|uaie mile. 



(ITIZILX in EI.. 77 

ballot in his hand, more than he diil — but the writer is antici- 
pating. 

Alas, for the poor half-breed I He could neither read nor 
write. He petitioned ; he prostrated himself at the feet of 
Canada's great premier; but the government was deaf and 
dumb. A writer in the Annual Cyclopiuda for 1SS5 says: 

" The people of the older provinces of Canada hardly knew that the half- 
breeds had any grievances at all until the eve of the rebellion." 

The language is worthy the asinine dolt who penned the 
lines. Did not know! Why? Because petition upon petition 
had found its grave in the pigeon-hole at the Interior Depart- 
ment to be resurrected only by the trumpet-blast of another 
Gabriel.* Sir John A. Macdonald had not only no dispo- 
sition to do justice; but he had not even the susceptibility of 
the unjust judge, mentioned in the gospel. There is little 
doubt, that Seneca lived and died in blissful ignorance of the 
martyrdom, and, of the very existence of Saint Paul, although 
he lived in the same city. That is no proof, that Paul was 
not beheaded. 

Hope deferred made the heart sick. The poor half-breeds 
became discouraged. There were many in the Saskatchewan 
settlement of Saint Laurent who participated in the uprising 
of 1869. The recall of Riel was suggested and determined- 
upon. All eyes were turned toward Montana. A commit- 
tee of four half-breeds was sent to the Sun River country. 
One of the committee was Gabriel Dumont, destined to figure 
in the future history of the country. They journeyed for 
seven hundred miles on Indian ponies. They found the ex- 
chief at Saint Peter's Mission, about twenty miles from Sun 
River, upon the banks of the Missouri. The messengers in- 
vited their old chief to return and lead them in a constitutional 
agitation for securing their rights. History contains few in- 
cidents more touching than the story of this pilgrimage. 

* Gabriel Dumont was the commander and chief of Kiel's army in the Sas- 
katchewan Rebellion. 



78 TH E 11 L ODD O F A 11 El. . 

Time may brand it as apocryphal, as it already has the tale 
of Pocahontas and John Smith. 

<' I've stood upon Achilles' tomb, 
And heard Troy doubted. Time will doubt of Rome." 

Kiel's friends at the Mission entreated him to remain in 
Montana. But he decided to go to the Saskatchewan. The 
wisdom of this choice will not be debated here. It may be 
arf>-ued that Riel was an American citizen and had renounced 
his allegiance to the Queen ; his country was at peace with 
Enpland; and, consequently, he had no right to interfere with 
England's colonial politics. 

There was once a Frenchman named LaFayette. His 
country was at peace with England. He came across the 
water to interfere with England's colonial politics. There 
was a difference, however, in this: LaFayette brought his 
sword along, while Riel intended a peaceful agitation cir- 
cumscribed by the constitution. But there were other differ- 
ences: LaFayette was successful. In his old age, his visit to 
the land he befriended was the event of the year 1824. A 
mountain, the third in height east of the Rocky range, has 
been named in his honour. The stoiy of Riel is but half told. 

He arrived in the Saskatchewan country, in the summer of 
1884. In company with others he began a constitutional 
agitation, which proved abortive. Seven months of this 
effected nothing but an increase of the mounted police, a body 
of men — half-civilian, half-soldier — acting as a constabulary 
force in the North-West Territories. They were organized 
in 1874; and ten years thereafter, at the time of which we 
write, they were increased to five hundred men. Thus did 
the poor children of the desert ask bread; and receive a stone. 
The council, presided over by Lieutenant-Governor Dowdney, 
had recommended their claims. But the great premier (for 
great he is) heard them not. Pharaoh's heart could not have 
been harder. Alas ! he was soon to learn " how much the 
wretched dare." When the history — I mean not such bril- 



CITIZKy in EI.. 70 

liant party pamphlets, as Mercer Adam's really able work; 
when the history of the North-West rebellion is written, it 
will appear, that few people would have borne what the 
poor half-breeds endured. 

If it was glorious to go to war over a three-penny tax upon 
tea, the half-breeds of the North-West were surely justified 
in fighting for their homes. For, 

" How can man die better 
Than facing fearful odds, 
For the ashes of his fathers, 

And the temples of his gods ; 
And for the tender mother 

Who dandled him to rest, 
And for the wife who nurses 
His baby at her breast." 
Riel had entered the country with the purest motives. Be- 
fore he commenced his constitutional agitation, he visited the 
Mission, Saint-Laurent-Grandin; called upon Father Four- 
mond, who had in charge the missions of Saint Lawrence, 
Saint Anthony of Padua and the Sacred Heart. He asked 
the ecclesiastic for his blessing; and ever after attended strictlv 
to his duties as a Catholic, 

He has been charged with apostasy. The discussion of this 
question would be without the purpose of this volume. If 
Riel taught the doctrines ascribed to him, he was, neverthe- 
less, quite as orthodox as the Nestorian, Prester John, whose 
strange career furnished the basis for so many pious legends; 
and whose uptopian kingdom was the object of so many pil- 
grimages. An indignant congregation left the church, when 
that unworthy pastor, Nestorius, declared the Blessed Virgin to 
be mother of Christ, but not of God. The verdict of Christen- 
dorn was against Nestorius; and he was driven in disgrace, 
from his see. Seven centuries thereafter half of Christendom 
were almost ready to canonize the disciple of the great here- 
siarch. Verily do times change; and men change with them. 
The charges against Kiel's orthodoxy have been made upon 



80 21£E BLOOD OF ABEL. 

authority highly respectable. But again let Macaulay's recom- 
mendation of one weight and one measure be borne in mind. 

On the 1 8th of March, 18S5, the first coercive act was com- 
mitted. Mr. Edward Blake, the liberal leader, in a speech 
delivered at Lindsay, in January, 1SS7, said: 

" I have never denied, that there was treason on the banks of the Saskatche- 
wan, amongst those half-civihzed illiterate, misguided, but also much abused 
people. There was treason under the law." * 

The author, presumptions as it may seem, will take issue 
with the liberal statesman, before the close. But, admitting 
the truth of his proposition, Louis Riel was guilty of treason 
under the law. Yes, just as Virginius was guilty of murder 
under the law. 

On the date last named, the half-breeds at Batoche, having 
formed a provisional government, rose in a body, under the 
leadership of Riel and Dumont. Riel persistently denied 
being the leader. He claimed, that all were equal, and he 
signed himself " Louis David Riel, ExovedeT This word 
exovede was one of his own coinage. He derived it from the 
Latin ex., out of; and ovile., tlie sheep-fold. Thus signifying, 
that he was only one among the others. His etymology was 
unique, eccentric and far-fetched, to say the least. The exact 
number of Riel's following is a little uncertain. An estimate 
is all that can be given. This the author forbears to make. 
The Indian camp-followers of Riel were the uncertain ele- 
ment, as those desultory soldiers of fortune always are. 

The nucleus of the half-breed settlement upon the Sas- 
katchewan, was the village of Batoche, situate upon the south 
fork. One mile below^ Batoche, upon the same fork is Du- 
mont's, or Gabriel's, Crossing, so called from the half-breed 
leader who kept a ferry there. The reader will remember, 
thatCarleton lies fourteen miles from Batoche, upon the north 
branch. Prince Albert lies farther down the same branch. 



* Toronto Weekly Globe, January 28, 1887 ; Speeches by Honourable Ed- 
ward Blake, (Hunter, Rose & Co., Toronto), page 421. 



CITIZEN BIEL. 81 

Nearly the whole country settled by half-breeds of this settle- 
ment in 1SS5 would be embraced within the surface of a su- 
perficial isoseles triangle, whose base would be a line drawn 
from Carleton to a point a little south-east of Gabriel Dumont's 
Crossing, and whose apex would be at Prince Albert. The 
distance from Gabriel's Crossing to Prince Albert is twenty- 
five miles. The portion of this half-breed settlement around 
and near Batoche was called Saint Laurent. The whole num- 
ber of half-breeds in the settlement in 1885 was less than 
five hundred, and the male adults capable of bearing arms 
numbered about seventy. 

The little village of Batoche lay about half-way between 
Clarke's Crossing and the junction of the two forks, a little 
nearer the former. The greater part of the village was on 
the right bank. Here were the stores of Kerr Brothers 
and George Fisher. Upon the left bank were the stores of 
Walters and Baker. Riel, Dumont and their following to the 
number of about forty men, seized and looteil the stores. An 
account was kept of the goods taken. 

Shortly after this outbreak the half-breeds at Batoche were 
favoured by a visit from Thomas Mackay,*of Prince Albert. 
This man was a Scotch-Cree half-breed of considerable intelli- 
gence who had enrolled himself as a volunteer for the sup- 
pression of the revolt. Mackay thus described his mission. He 
said that he went to Batoche: "To see if I could point out to 
them [the half-breeds] the danger they were getting into in 
taking up arms. I knew a great many of them were igno- 
rant and did not know what they were doing; and I thought 
I might induce them to disperse."j 

It has ever been the policy of a conquering nation to select 
certain members of a subjected race as the recipients of her 
special bounty, hoping, through them, to keep mastery over 
their fellows. This was Roman state-craft, and England is 

* Spelled also McKay, f The Queen vs. Louis Riel, p. 17. 
6 



82 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

no stranger to the art. Thomas Mackay was one of those 
petted panders. While at Batoche he met Riel. During a 
conversation held with Mackay, Riel called him a speculator 
and told him his blood was frozen. In the heat of his pas- 
sion he said many other things which he had better left un- 
said. He felt and spoke much as did Arminius, the German 
liberator, to his brother Flavius, who followed the Roman 
standard to fight against his country, in that celebrated inter- 
view so graphically described by Tacitus.* The language of 
Arminius has been beautifully rendered by Praed in English 
verse, and would be a fair paraphrase of Riel's language on 
this occasion : 

" I curse him by the gifts the land 
Hath won from him and Rome, 
The riving axe, the wasting brand. 
Rent forest, blazing home." 

While the fiery chief A^vas speaking with so much emphasis 
and freedom, the wily and phlegmatic British spy was drink- 
ing-in his words, which would be reproduced in the court- 
room at Regina. The language of Riel upon the occasion, 
as testified to by Mackaj', was judicially interpreted as the 
growl which accompanied the tiger's jump— what lawyers 
call a joart of the res gestce. 

On the 22nd of March Sir John A. Macdonald, the pre- 
mier, received a dispatch to the effect that Riel and a gang of 
his men, numbering forty in all, had seized the mail-bags at 
a way office near Duck Lake, and taken eight horses belong- 
ing to the mail-carrier; that they had plundered several stores; 
that they were encamped at Duck Lake, and were threaten- 
ing Fort Carleton ; that the wires were down between Prince 
Albert and Clarke's Crossing. The next day he informed 
the House of the unwelcome news. 

The same day Major-General Frederick D. Middleton had 
an interview with Adolphe P. Caron, Minister of the Militia 



Tacitus' Ann., Bk. II., 9 and 10. 



I 



( ITIZKX JilEL. S;i 

and Defence, and left that night for Winnipeg, where he ar- 
rived on Friday, the 27th instant, ostensibly on the routine of 
his department. Upon the train between Ottawa and Win- 
nipeg he heard of the battle of Duck Lake, 

Major Crozier, of the mounted police, with about eighty 
of that force and forty volunteers under Captain Moore, to- 
gether with the Scotch half-breed, Mackay, before men- 
tioned, were on their way from Carleton to Duck Lake, the 
object of their journey being to secure the merchandise in 
Stobert, Eden & Co.'s store, together with a large amount of 
government supplies also lying at Duck Lake, destined for 
Chaffee, the Indian farm instructor near that place. These 
Major Crozier intended to convey to Prince Albert for safe 
keeping. But the insurgents had stolen a march upon them 
and seized everything the day previous. Major Crozier came 
upon the half-breeds on Beardy's Reserve, about two miles 
from Duck Lake. Here the first battle of the Saskatchewan 
war was fought. The number of the rebel force has been 
variously represented by their enemies as from 150 to 220. 
It is utterly impossible that there could have been even the 
minimum number of half-breeds upon the ground at the fight. 
The strength of their Indian auxiliaries is uncertain. The en- 
tire rebel force probably outnumbered the mounted police and 
volunteers by a score or more. There were not more than 
twenty engaged in the fight, the remainder being held in 
reserve. The insurgents were armed mostly vvith shotguns. 
The men on both sides were experts in guerilla and prairie 
warfare. The only substantial advantage, on the rebel side, 
was the fact that Dumont was a better general than Crozier. 
There are many published accounts of this battle. They are 
all by Englishmen, or Americans in the last stages of Anglo- 
mania. The poor half-breeds, like the ancient Cilicians, had 
no historians. If we believe some British writers, Riel and 
Dumont had more men in their little army than there were 
half-breeds in the Saint Laurent settlement, men, women and 



84 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

children included. When Crozier came upon the insurgents 
they were standing behind a fringe of scrub poplar, near 
the edge of a coulee-ravine, with a stream running through it. 
At the word of command the government forces jiointed their 
rifles at the insurgents. Gabriel Dumont shouted: " Is it to 
be a fight?" Crozier replied: " I must shoot if you do not 
lay down your arms." Dumont picked up the gauntlet; and, 
without further jjarley, his men droj^ped into the ravine, and 
leveled their rifles along the top. At this time Crozier, who 
was about three hundred yards away, held up his hand; and 
the police and volunteers extended their lines. Crozicr's men 
fired first. The insurgents returned the shot, directing their 
fire to Crozier's left, where the Prince Albert volunteers 
were stationed, and eight of them fell. This was undoubt- 
edly intentional on the part of the insurgents, as they looked 
upon a policeman as only acting in line of his duty ; but they 
regarded the volunteer as a traitor to the common cause. After 
firing for half an hour, in a heavy fall of snow, it became 
evident to Crozier that the half-breeds were masters of the sit- 
uation. The discomfited Major retreated, with a loss of four- 
teen killed, and nine wounded. The insurgents lost five killed. 

At Fort Carleton Crozier met Colonel Irvine, with one hun- 
dred mounted police. The old fort, whose surrender had 
been previously refused upon Kiel's demand, was evacuated 
and burned. At its destruction it wanted but two years to 
complete the first century of its existence. The police re- 
tired down the river to Prince Albert. 

The effect of this victory of the half-breeds was to arouse 
the Indians. Battleford was besieged by the Sweet Grass 
and Poundmaker bands of Crees; and the settlers were forced 
to flee to the barracks, while the Indians looted their houses, 
acting more like a herd of swine than like human beings. 

Three days after the fight at Duck Lake, Payne, farm in- 
structor near Battleford, was murdered in the most fiendish 
manner by the Indians under his tutorage. 



<rrizi:x uiiiL. 85 

Thank God ! tlie purpose of this volume does not require 
a detailed account of the horrible massacre at Froo[ Lake, as 
this was in no manner traced to Kiel's door. Frog Lake is 
situated on the North side of the northern branch of the Sas- 
katchewan, far up the stream, above Fort Pitt, a station of 
the mounted police, and near the foot of Moose Hills, so- 
called. The massacre was the bloody work of Bi^r Bear's 
band of Crees, who have their reserve at Long Lake, the 
source of Beaver River, lying several days' journey north-west 
of Frog Lake. Big Bear, whom Mercer Adam styles the 
Pontiac of the North-West, exercised a tacit dominion over 
all the various bands of Indians in the vicinity of Long, 
Stoney, and Frog Lakes. On the third of April, Good Fri- 
day, the Indians, under Big Bear and Wandering Spirit, at- 
tacked the settlement at Frog Lake; interrupted the Holy 
Sacrifice of Mass; murdered several whites, including Thomas 
Quinn, Indian agent; two oblate fathers, Farfard and Mar- 
chard; John Deiany, farm instructor, and John A. Gowan- 
lock, millwright. They made prisoners of the wives of De- 
lanv and Gowanlocli. For two long months these heroic 
women suffered the horrors of a captivity, whose history 
reads like the tale of Hannah Dustin. Through the chivalric 
conduct of four half-breeds, particularly of John Pritchard, 
these poor women were saved from being the victims of sav- 
age lust — an alternative worse than death. It was Wan- 
dering Spirit who fired the first shot at Frog Lake, the one 
which killed Indian Agent Quinn. That stalwart savage ap- 
pears to have been the real leader of the movement. He 
afterwards pleaded guilty of murder, before Judge Rouleau; 
received his sentence, and jusfl)- suffered the law's extremest 
penalty for his terrible crime. 

Thus have the salient features of this terrible affair been 
given. All allusion to it would have been avoided, but for 
the fact, that Riel was charged with being responsible for 
this masssacrc. These accusers are about as just as were the 



86 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

northern fire-eaters who charged Jefferson Davis with being 
responsible for Little Crow's butcheries in Minnesota in 1S62 ; 
or some other equally brilliant geniuses who blamed Roscoe 
Conkling for the act of Guiteau. There is no doubt, but that 
Columbus was indirectly responsible for the killing of Mon- 
tezuma. If Columbus had not discovered America Montezu- 
ma would not have met his death in the peculiar manner that 
he did. This is precisely the logic by which Riel's enemies 
would convict him of responsibility for the massacre at Frog 
Lake. " The Indians never would have arisen, but for the 
half-breed revolt," they say; "they caught the contagion." 
Profundity of logic ! But for the American Revolution there 
would have never been a French Revolution. Hence it is ob- 
vious, that Thomas Jefferson was personally responsible for 
the judicial murder of Madame Roland. 

It will be shown hereafter, that there was not sufficient 
legal proof, that Louis Riel instigated Poundmaker to go upon 
the war-path. Yet there is plenty of historical evidence of the 
fact. The ethical propriety of a gentleman of Christian cul- 
ture instigating a lot of irresponsible savages to deeds of blood 
is a matter upon which there ought to be but one opinion. It 
is, surely, a course of conduct which could only be justified by 
the most intense provocation — something as terrible as that 
which provoked the negroes of Santo Domingo or the Sans- 
chulottes of 17S9. 

Riel had a bad example set, for him, by such elegant gentle- 
men as Doctor Schultz and General Burgoyne. The storj- of 
the former has been related in this volume. The latter was 
far more directly responsible for the murder of Jane McCrea 
than was Louis Riel for any outrage committed by Pound- 
maker's band. 

Here, again, one weight and one measure are commended, 
for the Canadian, the Englishman and the half-breed alike. 

It was out of the chronological order, to speak of the mas- 
sacre at Frog Lake, at this particular time. But, leaving the 



crrizF.x niEL. 87 

episode, let the campaign of Mitldleton, or a part of it be con- 
sidered. No military history will be attempted here. Not 
even an epitome of the entire campaign will be given. At 
some future time the author will visit the North-West for the 
purpose of making a critical and strategical study of Middle- 
ton's campaign in that region, after which he will write an ac- 
count of it. This campaign may be divided in three parts. 
First, the march from Qu'Appelle to Clark's Crossing; second, 
the campaign against the half-breeds, upon the Saskatche- 
wan, including the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche; third, 
the subsequent Indian war, including the capture of Pound- 
maker, the pursuit of Big Bear, Loon Lake, and-so-forth. 
The first two are all that will be dealt with in this volume. 

As already stated. General Middleton arrived at Winnipeg 
on the 27th of ^L^rch, and on the evening of that day he 
started for Qu'Appelle with 260 men of the 90th Battalion. 
He arrived there the same da}^, and the 2Sth, 29th and 30th 
were devoted to those preliminaries indispensable to a long 
march. Students fitting for an American college usually 
read Homer's Iliad to the Catalogue of the Ships and stop 
there. I fear such would be the fate of this little book did 
the author stop here to give a detailetl account of General 
Middleton's forces. His troops were made-up of citizen- 
soldiers, men who had left the shop, the desk and the farm. 
They were strangers to the barbaric art of war. Man}- 
of them had never pulled a trigger. The militia of Canada 
was under the control of Adolphe P. Caron, who was a 
member of the Cabinet and responsible to Parliament. They 
were under the immediate command of Frederick D. Mid- 
dleton, an ofiicer holding the rank of colonel in the regular 
army of Great Britain and ranking as major-general of mil- 
itia, with a salary of $4,000 a year. Both the minister and 
the general were men of superior ability. The first was the 
son of the distinguished Canadian statesman of that name; 
and was worthy of his sire. 



88 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

Frederick D. Middleton (a name which sounds well with- 
out a title) was the third son of Major-General Charles Mid- 
dleton of the regular army. He was a native of the land of 
vSarsfield and Wellington, having been born at Belfast, County 
Antrim, November 4, 1825. The lad was educated at the 
Royal Military College, and entered the army December 30, 
1842. He served with the 50th regiment in the war against 
the Maoris, and spent the years 1846 and 1847, or the gi'eater 
portion thereof, in New^ Zealand. Here the young officer 
received his baptism of fire; and an education in guerilla war- 
fare which was destined to distinguish him in his old age. 
He was mentioned in dispatches, and received a medal. Aft- 
erwards, serving in the Santhal Rebellion, he was mentioned 
in dispatches, and received the thanks of the government. 
He took part in the suppression of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 
and 1859. Space forbids a minute account of his honourable 
record as a soldier. He served at the historic siege of Luck- 
now, with which everv school-boy is familiar. In the year 
1S61, at the time of the Trent affair, Middleton came to Can- 
ada, as Major of the 29th, where he remained till the with- 
drawal of the troops from the country. He has received 
many decorations and titles which Americans have never 
learned to value. We believe, with Burns, that, •■' Rank is but 
the guinea's stamp," and-so-forth, and with Pitt, who said that 
Nelson would live in history as the greatest naval hero the 
world had ever seen, and none would ask whether he were a 
viscount or an earl.* So, too, w^ill Middleton live in history 
as the peer of any Indian fighter that ever trod the soil of the 
North American continent since the days of Cortez, with the 
possible exception of Andrew Jackson. Had the writer 
placed Middleton above them all, he might have been put 
down as wanting in national pride, (ieneral Middleton came 
to Canada as the successor to General Luard in the autumn 
of 1884. He had scarcely become acquainted with his posi- 

* Southey's Life of Nelson. 



crnzi'.x inEL. 89 

tioii and it> rcquiicineiits, when he was called to leail his raw 
recruits to a contest which would test their metal, as well as 
the ability of their great commander. 

The militia of the Dominion consisted of all citizens capa- 
ble of bearing arms, and was divided into four classes: First. 
All unmarried men and childless widowers between the ages 
of 18 and 45; Second. Married men, and widowers having 
children, between the ages of i8 and 30; Third. Married 
men, and widowers having children, between the ages of 30 
and 45; Fourth. All between 45 and 60. General Mid- 
dleton's army was made-up of the first class, as the law re- 
quired each class to be exhausted in its turn, before a levy 
could be made upon the next, except in case of a general levy, 
in which event every citizen able to bear arms could l)c called 
out. 

The character of Middleton's army has already been de- 
scribed, lie has been tersely and truly called " the brave 
commander of brave men." To this array of prowess and 
patriotism there was one melancholy exception. It was the 
hireling butcher, the black sheep from the American flock — 
bought with British gold by the Queen's factor, Adolphe P. 
Caron. Oh, shame! that the name of England's great phi- 
lanthropist should be borne by the ghoul with the Gatling 
gun. His dishonoured name shall not pollute this page. 
English writers have delighted in styling John Paul Jones 
a pirate, w^ho would have fought under the colours of the 
Dey of Algiers, as soon as those of his own Christian nation. 
But the worst caricature upon the commander of the Bon 
Homme Richard, would be the faintest delineation of that 
stipendiary assassin and military harlot— the Dugald Dalgatty 
of the North- West. Arnold's betrayal of his country has 
made his name a synonym for treason. His poetic type is Alp, 
the Adrian renegade, who forswore his country and his faith 
But these men had deep personal wrongs. Although we can 
not justify nor e\cn excuse them. The tale of what each of 



90 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

them suffered has made the one a Byronic hero, and excites 
a pang of pity at the mention of the other's name. There is 
the same difference between the Thug with the GatHng gun, 
and Arnold or Alp, that there is between a street-walker and 
the victim of misplaced-confidence. The only form of man, 
in fact or in fiction, which will depict the gladiator of the 
Saskatchewan, is the Yahoo of Swift's creation. It was the 
irony of fate which gave to the second century of our national 
independence the humiliating spectacle of an American citizen 
playing the ro/e of a Hessian. 

The Gatling gun, named from its inventor. Doctor Richard 
J. Gatling, is an American invention which came a little too 
late to be of much service in the late war. A description 
would consume too much space, and be foreign to the pur- 
pose. Suffice to say, that its utility for frontier warfare is no 
longer a problem of pyrotechnics, but a fixed fact. A gun 
of this description was procured from the Gatling Company, 
of which the inventor was president. A carriage-maker from 
New Haven was found to go along and explain its working. 
This fellow is said to have been a soldier in the United States. 
If so, history has failed to record his exploits. 

On the sixth of April, General Middleton set out with his 
army upon the celebrated march from Qu'Appelle to Ba- 
toche, by way of Touchwould Hills, the great Salt Plain, 
Humboldt and Clarke's Crossing, the last-named place being 
his objective point upon the .Saskatchewan. The distance 
from Qu'Appelle to Clarke's Crossing is 177 miles. This 
march was accomplished In twelve days, being a trifie less 
than fifteen miles a day, including halts. 

When we reflect, that Middleton's men were raw recruits; 
that the weather was inclement, it being the most disagreeable 
season of the year; that food for man and beast, as well as fuel 
for cooking, had to be transported; and when all the other 
draw-backs are remembered, Middleton's achievement appears 
wonderful. The nights were so cold, that the tent-pegs had 



CITIZEX niEL. ni 

to be chopped from the j^round with axes. Vet the scarcity 
of fuel prevented the building of fires to warm the poor 
soldiers. 

" Why," says some indolent lounger, " anybody can conduct 
a march." No military man would make that remark. Han- 
nibal's march through Gaul, and his passage of the Alps have 
done more to immortalize his name than the combined glory 
of Cannae and Thrasymene. 

General Middleton arrived at Clarke's Crossing on the i6th 
day of April, and the main body of his troops two days later. 

It is worthy of remark, that, during the entire march, the 
troops were never harassed by the half-breeds or their Indian 
allies. Lord Melgund, General Middleton's chief of staff, 
writes: 

" They [the half-breeds] never attacked a convoy, they never cut the wire 
behind us, and though Indians, and 'Breeds' are born mounted infantry, who can 
shoot as well from their horses as on foot, they never harassed us on the march." 

After some remark about the earliness of the season, he 
adds: 

" It would seem as if they intended only to defend their homes against in- 
vasion ! " "'•■ 

The reader would do well to remember this testimony from 
the military secretary of the notorious Marquis of Lansdowne. 
Melgund may be excused for misunderstanding Louis Riel, 
whom even Father Andre calumniated in the missionary jour- 
nals of France. But it will be seen, that Lord Melgund's 
heart is not a stranger to generous and charitable thoughts. 

Two days after General Middleton's arrival at Clarke's 
Crossing, he sent Colonel Otter, with the troops untler his 
command, to Battleford. This was because of alarming re- 
ports, received from that quarter. 

The general's description of the passage can not be im- 
proved. It is given intact: 



* The Recent Rebellion in the North-West, Nineteenth Century, for August> 
1885. 



92 THE BLOOD OF AH EL. 

" 1 now determined to divide my small force and move down both sides of 
the river, owing to the apparently correct information I had received that Rial's 
force only numbered about 400 men all told, and the knowledge I possessed that 
Lt.-Col. Irvine had over 200 under him at Prince Albert. I commenced cross- 
ing over my left column, sending over French's scouts and half of Boulton's 
mounted infantry by the two scows, which were now in working order. The 
second scow I procured from Saskatoon, the settlers of which place willingly 
gave it up forthe public service. I would here begto draw attention to the work 
done by the troops to enable me to cross this column. The scow had to be made 
water-tight ; the wire rope spliced, taken over and anchored to the other side ; a 
platform and windlass erected on near side, to stretch the rope ; oars had to be 
made with axes, wharves constructed, roads built down the steep banks to the 
water edge, which was completely blocked by enormous blocks of solid ice im- 
bedded in the thickest and stickiest of mud, the river running at the rate of four 
miles an hour; and all this had to be done in very cold weather."* 

The two columns then moved clown the river, the cHvision 
on the left bank under command of Lord Melgund ; the one 
on the right was conmmanded by General Middleton himself. 

On the 24th the column upon the right bank encountered 
the half-breeds, under Gabriel Dumont, at a place called Fish 
Creek. The other division came to their assistance, when a 
hard battle was fought. 

A proper understanding of this engagement demands a pre- 
liminary explanation. 

The south branch of the Saskatchewan has no valley strict- 
ly speaking. Although there are at rare intervals, low stretches 
of bottom. The course of the ri\er would hardh' be mis- 
named canon. It flows through high prairie land. The banks 
of the stream and the adjacent country are cut by ravines, 
through which rivulets feed the main stream from either side. 

About eight miles above Batoche, on the right bank of the 
river is a coulee, some forty feet in depth. The bottom of the 
ravine is one-fourth of a mile in width, and heavily timbered. 

At this point the half-breeds, resolved to make a stand. Du- 
mont had planned to draw Middleton into an ambuscade. It 
was the snare with which Arminius had destroved the Roman 



Report, Appendix No. 1, p. 



i'lTIZKX JilEL. 93 

legions under Varius. Had it proved successful, the fight at 
Fish Creek would have been a repetition of Braddock's defeat. 
But a greater than Varius or Braddock was there. 

The hardy old soldier had not fought the Maori for nothing. 
He kept his scouts in advance of the main line. These turned 
every copse, and explored every cranny. 

On the night of the 23rd, the general halted near the farm 
of a settler named Mcintosh. On the morning of the 24th 
the army began moving, about seven. The usual precautions 
were observed. The mounted scouts were well in the ad- 
vance; and spread out (to prevent the possibility of a success- 
ful ambuscade) in the front and flank. About two hundred 
yards behind these followed Boulton''s mounted infantry. The 
advance guard of the 90th Battalion followed about two hun- 
dred yards in the rear of that; and the main column in about 
two hundred and fifty yards behind the advance. Fish Creek 
was six miles distant from the Mcintosh farm; the Canadians 
received a fire from some bluffs on the left. This was pro- 
voked by the approach of the scouts. General Middleton did 
not commit the military blunder of Sturgis, wdiich caused the 
disgraceful fiasco at Guntown, during our late war. Instead 
of double-quicking the main body up to support his skirmish- 
ers, he caused the flankers and files in front to fall back upon 
his phalanx (so to speak), thus preventing confusion. After 
advancing from the ravine the half-breeds retired again ; and 
kept up a galling fire. The commanding general was shot 
through his Astrachan cap. He shouted to his raw recruits to 
hold their heads erect; and pointing to the hole in his hat, he 
told them, that but for sitting upright his brains would have 
been knocked out. About two in the afternoon all firing 
ceased, except an occasional shot from the ravine. The half- 
breeds had constructed rifle-pits in rows, along the side of the 
ravine, from which they picked-off the soldiers. The Cana- 
dian army retired from the coulee and that night they rested 
beside its brink which, as they believed, contained the enemy. 



94 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

The next day disclosed the fact, that Dumont had retired 
from Fish Creek; and adopting Napoleon's tactics at Mantua 
had left a few men behind for a blind. The strategem had 
proved a success. 

The loss of General Middleton's armj^ was ten killed and 
forty wounded. Of Dumont's army two dead Sioux and over 
fifty dead ponies were found in the ravine. It was said, that, 
after the fight, nearly evei-y soldier in the army of the Do- 
minion claimed to have killed his man. Dumont denies that 
the half-breeds lost a man; and says, that he had only forty- 
seven men engaged in the fight. The general places the in- 
surgent force at two hundred and eighty. It is probable, that 
Dumont did not include, in his statement, the auxiliary force 
of Indian warriors. General Middleton's force numbered 
four hundred and seven; not one had ever been under fire be- 
fore. The general has had many wiseacre critics of his course, 
in not charging upon the insurgents in the coulee, and for his 
general conduct of the battle. This is not the place to dis- 
cuss these questions. Time, " the corrector when our judg- 
ments err," will vindicate the brave old commander. He said 
enough good men had fallen; and he was right. 

The general placed the hole in his cap to the credit of Ga- 
briel Dumont himself. But credited himself with a victory. 
There can be no doubt, but Middleton did everything at Fish 
Creek which a gallant soldier, an able commander could do. 
But, when it is claimed, that he won a victory, one feels al- 
most like quoting Suwarrow's words, when he was saluted as 
a second Hannibal after his fight with Marshal Macdonald at 
Trebia: " Another such victory and we are ruined." 

On the day following the battle the brave boys slain at 
Fish Creek were buried with the honours of war; and a cairn 
and a cross mark the spot. 

" Their requiem — the music of the river's surging tide ; 
Their funeral wreaths — the wild flowers that grow on every side ; 
Their monument — undying praise from each Canadian heart, 
That hears how, for their country's sake, they nobly bore their part." 



CITIZEN RIKL. 95 

On the 5th of May the steamer Xorthcote ai rivetl from 
Swift Current (a station on the Canadian Pacific), having on 
board suppHes, troops and the Galling gun with the famous 
poltroon in command. Two days later the troops began to 
move upon Batoche, where the closing scene in this terrible 
drama was to be enacted. The general had brought his left 
column across the river to join his right. 

The entire country between Gabriel's Crossing and Batoche 
was cut up into wooded ravines; some of them fifty feet in 
depth. 

On the next day after leaving Fish Creek, the wily com- 
mander abandoned the dangerous trail along the river, and 
marching to the eastward, and then to the north-west, struck 
the trail from Humboldt to Batoche, about nine miles from 
the latter place, and camped for the night. As soon as the 
camp was selected, remembering the adage, " A good gen- 
eral provides for a retreat," Middleton pushed on with some 
of Boulton's mounted infantry to within four miles of Ba- 
toche, where he selected a site for a camp, in case it became 
necessary to fall back from Batoche. 

In the deep and wooded ravines which surrounded this 
place. Nature had provided a formidable rampart. The half- 
breeds had added something to her fastnesses. The rifle-pit, 
an invention of civilized man, had been utilized by these guer- 
illa warriors. These had been dug to the depth of ten feet; 
were located in the most strategic points, and in firm, sandy 
soil. They were always placed at the edge of woods, with 
the ground usually sloping to the rear, and extending up- 
ward or horizontally to the front. They were constructed 
with loop-holes made of logs and a ramp to descend by, with 
branches stuck into turned-up earth to conceal the pit. These 
rifle-pits form one of the most important strategical features 
of this singular campaign. 

Never, since the little army of Leonidas made their stand 
at Thermopylae against the myriads of Xerxes, has the world 



96 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

seen a more desperate and heroic defence than was made by 
the half-breeds at Batoche. 

It is not claimed that in the war npon the Saskatchewan 
the advantages were all on one side. Far from it! The half- 
breeds had the advantage of being upon the defensive, of 
being skilled in prairie warfare, and of being under the lead- 
ership of a chief whose ability as a partisan commander has 
hardly been surpassed in the history of the world. There 
were other advantages, already mentioned, in the nature of 
the country and the rifle-pits. 

The Canadians had the advantage of superior numbers; of 
arms, ammunition and artillery; of a commander with a va- 
ried experience in all kinds of warfare; of the moral force of 
an established government at their backs, and last, but not 
least, the Catling gun. 

Here one can not forget the irreverent remark of Napol- 
eon, that God is always on the side of the heaviest artillery. 

Any one familiar with the history of Schamyl's war against 
the Tsar, or the campaign of the old Spanish chief Sartorius, 
while contending with the armies of Rome, will understand 
that superior numbers are not always an insurmountable ad- 
vantage. 

On the morning of the 9th of May, 1885, the army under 
General Middleton left their camp standing and moved upon 
Batoche. They pushed on without opposition to the point 
where the Humboldt trail struck the river before turning 
down to Batoche, about one-half mile from the Catholic 
church. Between this place and the church there were three 
houses, near which some men were standing. A discharge 
from the Gatling gun dispersed them, and the Canadians 
moved slowly toward the church. From a house upon the 
further side of the church a white flag was being displayed. 
The general rode up to this, and found three or four priests, 
some sisters of chanty, and half-breed women and their chil- 
dren. 



I'lTIZEy RIKL. 97 

The church of Saint Anthony of Padua looks down upon 
the valley, or, rather, plain of Hatociie, which is an elliptical 
basin, surrounded by a ridge broken by wooded ravines. In 
the bluffs around this basin the half-breeds had entrenched 
themselves in the rifle-pits, before described. 

The artillery was placed to command the position of the 
half-breeds, and a discharge of shell and shot was opened 
upon the little hamlet of Batoche. The buildings were light 
and the consequent injury was not great. A sudden and un- 
expected fire was received from the insurgent sharp-shooters 
who were concealed. The discharge was accompanied by a 
whoop, but the shot was too high. Yet the surprise almost 
caused a stampede among the Canadians. A rush from the 
desperate insurgents had nearly captured the Canadian bat- 
tery, when Captain Peters came up with the Gatling gun; 
and the New Haven carriage-maker seized the crank, and 
scattered the terrible missiles of destruction upon the little 
band of patriots with the brutal remark: " Fll show you how 
to take guns." This murderous volley was followed by a 
harvest of death, shocking to any one but the biped who 
sowed the seed. 

" In vain, alas ! in vain ! Ve gallant few I" 
The battery guns were removed beyond the reach of the 
discomfited insurgents. 

A detailed account of this and the three subsequent days' 
fighting will be reserved for another work, before mentioned. 
Suffice it to say, that the sun went down on the evening of 
the 9th of May, 1885, and witnessed no substantial advantage 
to either of the contending armies at Batoche. The troops 
bivouacked upon the field ; and slept with their guns in their 
hands. 

The following day was Sunday, which passed without inci- 
dent, save the bombardment of a grave-yard by the Winnipeg 
battery. 

The next day was "as the last was, as the next [apparent- 
7 



98 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

Iv] would be." The half-breeds remained steadfastly in their 
rifle-pits. At evening General Middleton might have ad- 
dressed his troops, in the words of Zachary Taylor at Palo 
Alto: "My hardy cocks, the bayonet is the thing." 

The day following, while planning a general and decided 
attack, Middleton distinguished a white flag at a point in the 
enemy's lines. The bearer was Astley, one of Kiel's prisoners, 
who was also the bearer of the following note: 

" Batoche. 
" If you massacre our families, we are going to massacre the Indian agent 
and other prisoners. 

"Louis 'David' Riei., 

" I'er J. W. Astley, bearer, A/aj- 12th, i8Sj. 

This was taken as a confession of weakness; and the gen- 
eral replied as follows: 

" May i2tli, 1883. 
" Mr. Riel — I am anxious to avoid killing women and children and have 
done my best to avoid doing so. Put your women and children in one place 
and let us know where it is, and no shot shall be fired on them. I trust to your 
honor not to put men with them. 

" Freu. Middleton, 

" Com. N. IV. Field Forces^ 
The forenoon was passed in firing between sharp-shooters 
on either side. The men took their dinner in the trenches. 
In the afternoon a general advance was made; and the half- 
breeds were driven from their rifle-pits to the cemetery. A 
portion of the Canadian troops entered a ravine which encir- 
cled the cemetery, and shot the half-breeds in the rifle-pits, 
bayoneted the survivors in their vain attempt at flight. At 
this time the general received a call from Astley, who was 

the bearer of another note. It read: 

"Batoche, 12th Alay, /SSj. 
" Major- General Middleton : 

" General — Your prompt answer to my note shows that I was right in men- 
tioning to you the cause of humanity. We will gather our families in one place, 
and as soon as it is done we will let you know, 

" I have the honor to be, General, 

" Your humble servant, 

"Louis 'David' Riel." 



i'lTlZI'.S in EL. 



Upon the envelope was the following, in RiePs hand-writ- 
ing, Init without signature: 

",I do not like war, and if you do not, retreat and refuse an interview, the 
ciuestion remaining the same, the prisoners." 

The general replied, that his troops would cease firing 
when th*^ enemy did, and not before. After this Kiel's little 
band of patriots fought with the courage born of despair. 
But it was all in vain, the bayonet and the Gatling did the 
work. The village was carried, Kiel's council house was 
captured; and his prisoners were released. The chief and his 
lieutenant escaped. The latter flew to the United States. 

Three days, afterward, Kiel surrendered himself to two 
scouts, Hourie and Armstrong. This surrender was made on 
the strength of a letter received from General Middleton, 
promising, in effect, as the general testified, protection from 
immediate violence, and a trial by law. Honourable Edward 
Blake comments as follows: 

" Now the Honourable Minister of Militia (Adolphe P. Caron) referred to 
what he called the evidence with regard to the letter of General Middleton to 
Kiel ; yet he did not satisfy me that Kiel did not surrender on that letter. The 
statement ot Colonel Boulton was directly to the contrary, and if we remember 
the whole circumstances of the case— the time General Middleton wrote the 
letter, and the condition of things stated by the First Minister in one of the dis- 
cussions last session as to papers— I do not think that is a fair inference from 
the evidence. But the Honourable Minister said he would prove the purpose 
for which the letter was given, and he proved it by reading a letter from the 
Major-f.eneral, who, he said, had been told by some one that Kiel was afraid 
of being killed in the camp. That was not very good evidence against Kiel, as 
the honourable gentleman knows. The intent with which General Middleton 
sent the letter is of no consequence. The question is, what does the letter fairly 
import. The authority of General Middleton is not of any consequence, if that 
were disputed, though I do not suppose it is. Now, the ([uestion, to my mind, 
on this subject is just this : Is it for the honour and credit of the volunteers of 
Canada that it should be declared that that paper was sent in order to warrant 
the prisoner, if he surrendered himself, against lynch law ? Is it to the credit 
and honour of the volunteers to say that it was necessary for a Major-General in 
the British army, to give assurance to Kiel and his council that they would not 
be lynched ii they surrendered themselves. I should be sorry to come to any 



100 THE BLOOD OF AllEL. 

such conclusion ; and then, ihe question remains : Was it not reasonable to be- 
lieve that the result of this statement was, Vou shall not, in fact, be exposed to 
the very worst that you can possibly be exposed to if you are caught — that is, 
death. I think the liberal interpretation of that letter, in the sense and spirit 
in which such letters and assurances have been interpreted in all events of this 
description, would have led to that conclusion."* 

The te.\t of this letter has never come to the knowledge of 
the writer, and, always ha\ ing been an admirer "of the old 
general, he woidd probably be a prejudiced judge. Through- 
out the late difKculty in the North-West the author looked at 
the general with the eyes of love and enthusiastic admiration, 
and regarded him as the moral Agamemnon who towered 
above the others. 

Louis Riel was taken down the Saskatchewan on the Xorth- 
cote and was placed in custody of an escort under command of 
Captain Young of the Winnipeg Field Battery, and sent to 
Regina, by way of Humboldt, there to await the further pleas- 
ure of the Dominion government. The Reverend Pitblado of 
Winnipeg accompanied the escort. This gentleman, although 
he did not regard Riel as a great soldier, repelled the charge 
of cowardice made against him. 

Riel was confined at the Mounted Police Barracks, about 
two miles from the city. After being kept there for about 
two months, he was brought for trial before Ilonomable 
Hugh Richardson,j- a stipendiary magistrate. 

This gentleman has been the victim of ridicule and the tar- 
get of abuse from every champion of Riel and his cause. An 
editorial found in the Springfield Republicans^ entitled, 
'•'■ Canada's Condemned Ti-aitor^'' describes him as: "A 
bushy-whiskered, big-necked frontier justice." This is all 
wrong. 



* See the Hansard. 

t It is true there was a justice of the peace, named Henry Le Jeune sittin<j 
with Mr. Justice Richardson, but the former reminds the writer of one of the 
side judges they used to have in the State of Vermont — a judicial nonentity. 

X See weekly issue for August 7, 1885. 



CITIZEN RIEL. 1<>1 

Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Richardson was, at the time of 
the trial, in his sixtieth year. He was called to the bar when 
he was twenty-one years old ; and was engaged in active prac- 
tice for twenty-nine years; during five he held the position of 
County Attorney. For nine years he had been Stipendiary 
Magistrate, a position whose importance has, already, been 
desaibed. He is a native of England; and a gentleman of 
learning, firmness and integrity. If occasion is found to criti- 
cise the'conduct of Kiel's trial, the fault lies deeper than the 
character or the ability of the magistrate himself. It must 
be sought in the accursed judicial system itself. Now the 
writer will not retract a syllable of the first part of his work. 
But he will say, some things by way of supplement. 

Professor Hryce, in his able work before cited, under the 
title, ''Pure Justiciary," expresses himself as follows: 

"One of the great advantages of the province over the neighbouring states is 
in the administration of justice. In the United States the judges are elected by 
the people directly. Accordingly, if the judge be elected by the Repubhcans. 
he is expected to deal out hard measure to the Democrats, and vice versa. The 
result of this is simplv frightful. Such a thing as gaining fair play from a judge 
ot adverse political opinions is not counted on in many parts of the United 
States. This gives rise to a vast amount of trickery and collusion in business." 

"The Canadian of the present day 
looks with great pleasure on the high character and impartiality of the bench of 
Canada. It is the English law which prevails. The dignity of the court is 
maintained bv the use of a suitable costume, and the authority of the bench is 
paramount. The appearance of .-\merican courts, where the lawyers appear in 
grey clothing if they choose, and assume the most ' free and easy ' manners, is 
absolutely distressing. It is related to have occurred in Kansas that a couit- 
crier, in adjourning the court, did so in the following words. ' O yes ! O yes 1 
( ) yes : This whole outfit will adjourn till to-morrow morning.' " * 

There is a plain, though expressive, Saxon word of three- 
letters; but it is more forcible than elegant. The writer dis- 
likes to use it, while the ugly monster almost forces itself 
upon his lips. Had he the style of a Junius he might picture, 
without naming, a man whose heart could conceive, whose 
* Manitoba: Its Infancy, C.rowth and Present Condition, page 357. 



1 02 TJIE BL O 01) OF A BEL. 

brain could engender, and whose hand could pen such fact- 
less things. The Manitoba professor must have taken the fic- 
tion of the Kansas court-crier (an officer, by the bv, un- 
known in the States) from some comic almanac. 

The author will enter upon no defence of the elective judi- 
ciary system. For he does not, and never did believe in it. 
It has been fittingly described as "democracy run mad." 
But, with all its faults, the elective system is far better than 
the judiciary that exists (like the judiciary which tried Riel) 
during the pleasure of the government whose creature it is. 
This elective system may have a tendency to demagogism, 
and, in some instances does create judicial charlatans, like 
Absalom, who would be judge in Israel. 

But even Absalom is preferable to Jeffreys. 

It is not meant to abuse Colonel Richardson; but it must be 
insisted that he is human. He held an office whose tenure was 
dependent upon the good pleasure of the administration at 
Ottawa. He was the secretary, or clerk, and the legal adviser 
of the North-West Council. He was receiving a salary from 
the Dominion of $3,000, augmented by perquisites to nearly 
$2,000 more. If he was able to sit in the case, and preside 
without bias, he was certainly a very superior man, one whose 
like the world has hardly seen since the days of Aristides. Yet 
it must be admitted that he succeeded better than most men 
would have done. 

Riel was brought to trial upon an information verified antl 
filed by Alexander David Stewart, Chief of Police of Hamil- 
ton, Ontario. The information contained six counts. The 
following counsel appeared for the Crown: Messrs. Robin- 
son, Osier, Scott, Casgrain and Burbidge, Deputy Minister 
of Justice. 

The prisoner was defended by Francis X. Lemieux, Charles 
Fitzpatrick and Messrs. Johnston and Greenshields. 

From the outset it was evident that the Government was 
determined to have the prisoner's blood. A large number of 



I 



iJTIZKy in El.. 103 

half-breeds had been captuietl. But all of these, sa\e Riel, 
had l)een charged simply with treason-felony, a crime pun- 
ishable only with perpetual imprisonment, while Riel had 
been charged with high treason, the punishment of which 
was death. The reason for this was so plain that he who 
runs may read. Behind the scenes stood the Nemesis of 
Thomas Scott. There were in Ontario two thousand Orange 
lodges clamouring for the blood of Riel. Only the life of a 
wild enthusiast ilescended from a "very mixed stock of In- 
dians, half-breeds and Irish whites," lay between Sir John A. 
Macdonald and the united support of the Orangemen of On- 
tario. The Dominion Government was the prosecutor in a 
higher sense than the mere title of the cause would imply. 
Kiel's trial was emphatically a state trial. It reminds one of 
the days of the Earl of Essex or of Lady Alice Lisle. This 
tyrant's plea of state necessity was eloquently and nobly de- 
scribed by Franklin Pierce, afterwards President of the United 
States, in a speech before the Federal Senate: 

" Sir, this demand of the nation, — this plea of state of necessity, — let me 
tell gentlemen, is as old as the history of wrong and oppression. It has been 
the standing plea, the never-failing resort of despotism. 

"The great Julius found it a convenient plea when he resorted the dii^nily 
of the Roman Senate, but destroyed its indt^pendence. It gave countenance to, 
and justified, all the atrocities of the Inquisition in Spain. It forced out the 
stifled groans that issued from the Black Hole of Calcutta. It was written in 
tears upon the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, and pointed to those dark recesses 
upon whose gloomy thresholds there was never seen a returning footprint. 

" It was the plea of the austere and ambitious Straflbrd, in the days of Charles 
I. It filled the Bastile of France, and lent its sanction to the terrible atrocities 
perpetrated there. It was this plea that snatched the mild, elo(|uent and pa- 
triotic Camille Desmoulins from his young and l)eautiful wife and hurried him 
to the guillotine, with thousands of others, eipially unoffending and innocent. 
It was upon this plea that the greatest of generals, if not men, — you cannot mis- 
take me, — I mean him, the presence of whose very ashes, within the last few 
months, sufficed to stir the hearts of a continent, — it was upon this plea that he 
abjured the noble wife who had thrown light and gladness around his humbler 
days, and, by her own lofty energies and high intellect, had encouraged his 
aspirations. It was upon this plea that he committed that worst and most fatal 



104 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

act of liis eventful life. Upon this, too, he drew around his person the imperial 
puiple. It has in all times, and in every age, been the foe of liberty, and the 
indispensable stay of usurpation. 

" Where were the chains of despotism ever thrown around the freedom of 
speech and of the press but on this plea of state of necessity? Let the spirit 
of Charles X. and of his ministers answer. 

" It is cold, selfish, heartless, and has always been regardless of age, sex, 
condition, services, or any of the incidents of life that appeal to patriotism or 
humanity. Wherever its authority has been acknowledged, it has assailed men 
who stood by their country when she needed strong arms and bold hearts, and 
has assailed them when, maimed and disabled in her service, they could no 
longer brandish a weapon in her defence. It has afflicted the feeble and de 
pendent wife for the imaginary faults of the husband. It has stricken down 
Innocence in its beauty. Youth in its freshness. Manhood in its vigor, and Age 
in its feebleness and decrepitude."-" 

The trial began on the 20th of July. The prisoner's coun- 
sel made an abortive attempt to obtain a continuance for the 
purpose of procuring testimony. One part of the testimony 
described in the application was a certificate of Kiel's natural- 
ization. An adjournment of one week was finally agreed 
upon. The qtiestion of citizenship was afterwards totally 
ignored by counsel and court. 

Thomas D. Rambaut, of the New York bar, has written a 
pamphlet of 167 pages. The object of the book is the an- 
tithesis of this. This profound writer takes the trouble to 
inform his readers that, preliminary to the trial of Riel, "No 
coroner's inquest had been held nor indictment found by the 
grand jury." What, in the name of all that is mysterious, 
would they hold a coroner's inquest upon in a case of high 
treason! The body politic? Such questions are fathomless 
for ordinary mortals, and must be reserved for members of 
the New York bar. 

On the 2Sth day of July the trial began in earnest. Coun- 
sellor Osier opened on behalf of the Crown. The prosecu- 
tion called fourteen witnesses, who testified as to the affair at 
Duck Lake and the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche. 

* Hawthorne's Life of Pierce, pp. 42-44. 



CiriZEX KIEL. 105 

Doctor VVilloughby, of Saskatoon, and Thomas Mackay, of 
Prince Albert, were the chief witnesses to prove the animus 
of .Riel from dechirations made by him. General Frederick 
D. Middleton and John W. Astley were the chief witnesses 
to prove Kiel's leadership and direction of the rebellion. 
There was much documentary evidence, among other things 
a letter in Kiel's handwriting found in Poundmaker's camp. 
No proper foundation was laid for the introduction of this 
document, its receij^t by Poundmaker not having been shown. 
When Kobinson came to sum-up the case for the Crown he 
made use of this language: 

" My learned friend, Mr. Fitzpatrick, must have forgotten what is due to a 
prisoner when he charged those who were acting for the Crown with some 
warmth for not having called Poundmaker to prove the receipt of that docu- 
ment. He was good enough at the same time to say that those who were con- 
ducting the case for the Crown were persons who understood fair play. It was 
because we did understand fair play, because it would have been improper to 
have called Poundmaker to swear to that, that we did not call him. If we had 
attempted to put Poundmaker in the box to prove the receipt of this document 
we should have been asking Poundmaker to declare on his oath his own com- 
plicity in this rebellion, and Poundmaker would have said to us: 'I decline to 
answer your questions,' and any judge would have said to those who acted for 
the Crown : 'Centlemen, you had no business to put a man in that position.' 
Now that is our answer on the part of the Crown to the charge that we didn't 
call the prisoners to prove their own guilt out of their own mouth." 

That is to say, when you can not lay the proper foundation 
for the introduction of a document, you are entitled to jiut it 
in any way. 

The Crown utterly failed to show that either Duck Lake, 
Fish Creek or Batoche were within the Realm of Her Maj- 
esty. This was, probably, on tiie theory that Kiel was a cit- 
izen of Great Britain, and, consequently, the proof of avenue 
was not necessary. Several Crown witnesses testified to 
Kiel's abuse of prisoners. This was in contradiction of Lord 
Melgund, who wrote, that the half-breeds treateil their pris- 
oners well.* 



Article in the Nineteenth Century, August, 1885. 



106 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

When the Crown witness Nolin was being cross-examined 
the defendant interfered in the management of the case by 
his lawyers, objecting to the plea of insanity. The court held, 
that once he had counsel he could not interfere. 

Counsellor Greenshields opened on behalf of the prisoner. 
His speech is said to have been an eloquent and exhaustive 
history of the half-breed difficulties. The writer has never 
been able to procure a copy of it. For some reason the gov- 
ernment at Ottawa have excluded it from their published 
documents. This reason is plain and clear. The defence 
sought to show the state of affairs in the Saskatchewan val- 
ley, the grievances of the half-breeds, and-so-forlh. This tes- 
timony was excluded. The defence was compelled to fall 
back upon the plea of insanity. Kiel's lawyers fought for 
him at Regina as bravely as did his half-breeds at Batoche. 
They called six witnesses to prove the prisoner's insanity. 

One of these was Doctor Roy, who had treated Riel at 
Beauport asylum. There was another expert called by the 
prisoner's counsel. Doctor Clarke. The defence rested. 

Then the Crown called seven witnesses to rebut the plea 
of insanity. Rambaut insists that the preponderance of tes- 
timony on this point was with the Crown. The rule, that 
the greater number of witnesses constitute the preponderance, 
must be something peculiar to New York practice. 

Counsellor Fitzpatrick summed-up on behalf of the defend- 
ant, probably in as able a manner as the testimony would allow. 

The prisoner was permitted to address the jury in his own 
behalf. The address is thus described by the Springfeld 
Republican .,\\\ the editorial, "C'fl'«fl'</« '5 Condcii/ncd Traitor ^^ 
before mentioned. 

" If there was any favorable impression made at all upon the jury, it was the 
result of Kiel's own bearing and words. When the evidence was all in he rose 
and made a remarkable plea of over two hours. It was a uniijue thing in ora- 
tory, his exordium consisting of an impressive prayer to Heaven to bless every- 
body in the case, and his peroration was short, logical and clever, he taking a 
paper from his pocket after his long speech and reading deliberately. When 



CITIZi:X RIEL. 107 

he sat down two of the jury were in tears, and of course all the women were. 
He first paid his eloquent respects to his legal advisers for pronouncing him in- 
sane, and then turning the case about and reviewing the refusal of the Domin- 
ion government to protect the half-lireeds, he charged on the ministers them- 
selves, — 'insanity," headded, ' complicated with paralysis.' Hesaidthathe had 
two mothers — the one who nursed him and the Northwest, — neither of whom 
would kill him. If there was any power in this man facing his jury, it was all 
contained in the patriotic sentiment of which he is the picturesijue embodiment 
and which prompted him to admit his treason in order to protect ' my people 
in Saskatchewan.' By the rules of discretion that govern men on solemn trial 
for treason Louis Riel is wanting, just as common discretion was wanting in 
the gieat Socratic trial. He affronted the court, the Dominion, the Catholics, 
the very men that were detailed to defend him, and in fact everybody but his 
poor Metis nation. It was all madness, but the method of it will confirm his 
fame in the Northwest. For stern, audacious assumption of dignity, what can 
match his prayer to Heaven in behalf of all engaged in the trial, — ' Turn curi- 
osity into calm interest. Amen ! ' "* 

Counsellor Robinson closed on behalf of the Ciown. IW-^ 
address is the ablest argument against a plea of insanity it 
has ever been the author's good fortune to read. There is 
one passage in his speech noteworthy because of its sophistry : 

"The Crown's witness, Charles Nolin, had testified: 'He [Riel] spoke of 
money, I think he said he wanted Sio,ooo or Si5,ooo. The first time he 
spoke about it he did not know of any particular plan to get it, at the same time 
he told me that he wanted to claim an indemnity from the Canadian govern- 
ment. He said that the Canadian government owed him about Sloo,ooo, 
and then the question arose whom the persons were whom he would have 
to talk to the government about the indemnity. Some time after that the pris- 
oner told me that he had an interview with Father Andre and that he had made 
peace with the church, that since his arrival in the country he had tried to sep- 
arate the people from the clergy, that until that time he was at open war almost 
with the clergy. He said that he went to the church with Father Andre and 
in the presence of another priest and the Blessed Sacrament he had made peace, 
and said that he would never again do anything against the clergy. Father 
Andre told him he would use his influence with the government to obtain for 
him 535,000. He said that he would be content with ^35,000 then and that he 
would settle with the government himself for the balance oi Sioo,ooo. That 
agreement took place at Prince Albert. The agreement took place at .Saint 
I.aurent and then Father Andre went back to his mission at Prince Albert.' "f 



*St>rutgMd Weekly Republican, August 7, 1885. f Queen v. Riel, p. 93. 



108 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

Father Andre had testified: 

" He [Riel] said, ' If I am satisfied, the half-breeds will be.' I must explain 
this. This objection was made to him that even if the government granted him 
$35,000 the half-breed question would remain the same, and he said in answer 
to that, ' If I am satisfied, the half-breeds will be.' "* 

Mr. Robinson commented as follows: 

" Now, in this case there is one absolutely conclusive fact proved, about which 
there can be no dispute, which is a complete answer to the defence of insanity. 
There is no question and no dispute of one thing, that the very essence of an 
insane impulse is that it is impervious to reason. The impulse of the insane 
man is such that you do not reason him into it and therefore you cannot reason 
him out of it. The moment you find the impulse which possesses a man yield- 
ing to reason, force or any motive, that moment that ceases to be an insane de- 
lusion." " Now, what are the facts here? We are 

told that this man's controlHng mania was a sense of his own importance and 
power; that he was so possessed with overweening vanity and insane ambi- 
tion, that the one thing that he was unable to resist, which in his own mind 
justified all crimes and was an atonement for all guilt, was his own sense of 
greatness and position and his power. Well, gentlemen, is it not a fact that he 
expressly said that if he could get a certain sum of money he would give up this 
power and this ambition and go avvay."t 

The best answer to this is a passage from the sjjeech of 
Honourable Edward Blake, delivered in the House of Com- 
mons, March 19th, 1S86: 

" In this connection I desire to say a word, and a word only, with reference 
to a charge highly calculated, if true, to increase the guilt, so far as he was mor- 
ally responsible, of Riel. I refer to the charge of venality. I have already read 
that portion of the evidence of Nolin which shows the purpose to which this 
man stated he would apply the money which he was al)out to get from the Gov- 
ernment — -that he would apply it in starting a newspaper and in raising other 
nationalities in the States, and to eflecting the prosecution of his de.signs. I say 
that however plainly that may appear to be a violent, a wicked, or a mad senti- 
ment, it is utterly inconsistent with the charge of venality; it shows that this 
was the mode which, in his disordered mind, he thought would be most effi- 
cacious in order to accomplish the design for his people and for himself, as part 
of his purpose, which he entertained. But the very circumstance that he made 
that statement to Nolin, to my mind proves that it is impossible that he could 
have made the proposal for a venal purpose. I know perfectly the prejudices 
which exist. I know how many men would like to ease their consciences by 



Queen v. Riel, p. 113. f Kpitome of Parliamentar)- Documents, 



etc., 



(■iti/j:\ hi El.. loit 

saying : Oh, this was a base, and venal man. But it would be an ac! of hu- 
miliating cowardice on the part of one who has formed another conclusion on 
this subject, to bend to such prejudices, and to allow a name which must ever 
be deeply clouded and stained, to receive another cloud or stain, which lie, at 
any rate, in my judgment, does not deserve. But I will add this, that I had ex- 
pected to hear ere now from an honourable gentleman who was very intimately 
associated with Louis Riel, who worked together with Louis Kiel in the N'orih- 
West, his appreciation of that portion of the case. I have been to'd a story — I 
was told it by one who knew — on this subject. When the first intelligence came» 
that he had asked the government for money, that he was going to sell the 
cause, ' Well,' I said ' this is a most extraordinary thing ; it entirely alters the 
whole complexion of the case.' ' Oh, do not believe it,' said this gentleman 
who knew. ' Well,' I said, ' I have reason to believe that he has asked for the 
money.' ' Yes that is quite possible, he is quite convinced he has a claim, but 
depend upon it, I know that it is impossible that he can have asked for money 
to deceive or betray his people, or that he would betray their cause. I know 
all the events, which occurred when he was in the provincial government. I 
know that at the time when he was in power there in 1869-70, when he had the 
resources of the Hudson Bay Company at his command, his own family was in 
a state of destitution, living down at their place, and he would not allow any 
portion of what he called public property to be sent to them at all, even to keep 
them in life, and that same provisional council was obliged to secretly send 
down a bag of Hour or something of that kind to his motlier, who had the charge 
of the family, in order to keep them alive.' " 

" An Honourable Member — Too thin." 

"Mr. Blake — Somebody says, that it is too thin. I refer the honourable gende- 
men to the honourable member for Provencher (Mr. Royal) on that subject."* 

Judge Richaidson, in his charge to the jmy, used the fol- 
lowing language: 

"To asiist you in your deliberations, let me draw your attention to some 
points suggested to my mind by the evidence. You recollect the statements as 
to the prisoner's appropriating property, and making prisoners of others simply 
because they, to his idea, opposed him in his movements. It has been sug- 
gested by the Crown, in reference to the $35,000, that it tends to show that this 
was all a scheme of the prisoner's to put money in his own pocket. Be that asi 
it may, one of the witnesses, Nolin speaks distinctly as to the $35,000, and on 
that branch of his evidence we have his corroborated by the priest Father Andre 

* This speech of the Liberal Leader is a masterpiece of its kind, an eloijuent, 
exhaustive and logical exposition of the Kiel i|uestion. .\t its close there is no 
aspect of this awkward affair which is untouched ; and little remains to be said 
upon the subject. 



110 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

and further by Jackson. Then you have heard the evidence given by Captain 
Young as to the conversations he had with the prisoner. Witness after \\ itness 
gave evidence as to what occurred in March, at the lime of the commencement 
of this rebellion. Some of them speak of the prisoner being very irritable when 
the subject of religion was brought up. It appears, however, that his irritability 
had passed away when he was coming down with Captain Young, as we do 
not hear anything of it then. Does this show reasoning power ? 

" Then at what dale can you fix this insanity as having commenced ? The 
theory of the defence fixes the insanity as having commenced only in March, 
but threats of what he intended to do began in December. Admitting that the 
insanity only commenced about the time of the breaking out of the rebellion, 
what does seem strange to me is that these people who were about him, if they 
had an insane man in their midst, that some of them had not the charity to go 
before a magistrate and lay an information setting forth that there was an insane 
man amongst them, and that a breach of the peace was liable to occur at any 
moment, and that he should be taken care of. I only suggest that to you, not 
that you are to take it as law, I merely suggest it to you as turning upon the 
evidence." * 

Such language as that addressed to the jury from the bench, 
would be enough to reverse a conviction in any state of the 
American Union. It is not the fault of the judge so much as 
of the infernal English custom of the judge summing-up the 
evidence; that is, virtually telling the jury how to find. 

After receiving the instructions of the court, the jury re- 
tired to deliberate, and while they were out the prisoner en- 
gaged in prayer in the box. He sat upon each juryman's seat, 
and prayed fervently; then he sprinkled the seats with holy 
water. In a half-hour the jury returned a verdict of guilty, 
with a recommendation to mercy. 

Riel was asked, as is usual, if he had anything to say why 
the sentence of the law should not be pronounced upon him. 
He spoke for two hours with much eloquence, reviewing his 
life, and the grievences of his race. But, as in such cases 
generally, he offered no legal objection to the sentence. The 
court then addressed the prisoner: 

" Louis Riel, after a long consideration of your case, in which you have been 
defended with as great ability as I think any counsel could have defended you 



Epitome of Parliamentar)' Documents, pp. 211 and 212. 



CITIZES RIEL. 1" 

with, vou have been found by a jury wlio have shown, I niight ahuost say. un- 
exampled patience, guiUy of a crime, the most pernicious and greatest that n,an 
can commit; you have been found guiUy of high treason, you have been proved 
to have let loose the flood gates of rapine and bloodshed, you have, with such 
assistance as you had in the Saskatchewan country, managed to arouse the In- 
dians and have brought ruin and misery to many families whom if you had 
simply left alone, were in comfort and many of them were on the road to afflu- 
ence. For what you did, the remarks you have made form no excuse whatever; 
for what you have done the law requires you to answer. 

"It is true that the jury in merciful consideration, have asked Ilei Majesty 
to give your case such merciful consideration as she can bestow upon it. I had 
almost lorgotten that those who are defending you have placed in my hands a 
notice that the objection which they raised at the opening of the court must not 
be forgotten from the records, in order that, if they see fit, they may raise the 
question in the proper place. That has been done ; but in spite of that I can 
not hold out any hope to you that you will succeed in getting entirely free, or 
that Her Majesty will, after what you have been the cause of doing, open her 
hand of clemency to you. For me, I have only one more duty to perform ; that 
is, to tell you what the sentence of the law is upon you. I have, as I must, given 
time to enable your case to be heard. All I can suggest or advise you is to pre- 
pare to meet your end ; that is all the advice or suggestion I can offer. It is my 
painful duty to pass the sentence of the court upon you, and that is that you be 
taken now from here to the police guard room at Regina, which is the jail and 
place from whence you came, and that you be kept there till the i8th of Sep- 
tember next, and on the iSth of September next you be taken to the place ap- 
pointed for your execution and there be hanged by the neck till you are dead. 
And may God have mercy on your soul I"* 

A friend of Riel writes the author, on this part of the 
trial : 

"The judge's sentence was accompanied by remarks so brutal that they have 
been suppressed from the official record. See the reports of the contemporary 
press." 

After the condemnation of Riel an appeal was taken to the 
court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba. 
The errors assigned were in substance : 

I. That the law giving a stipendiary magistrate, with a jus- 
tice of the peace, and a jury of six power to try a prisoner 
was contrary to Magna Charta. 

II. That the law required the information to be taken be- 

* Queen v. Riel, page i66. 



112 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

fore a stipendiary magistrate and a justice of the peace, in- 
stead of the stipendiary alone. 

III. That the law required the magistrate to take the testi- 
mony in writing; and a short-hand reporter's notes were not 
a compliance with the statute. 

IV. That the evidence was insuthcient. 

V. That the powers of the Dominion Parliament were 
delegated, not plenary; and their act was ultra vires. 

John S. Ewart, Francis X. Lemieux and Charles Fitzpat- 
rick appeared for Riel. His counsel demanded, that he be 
brought to Winnipeg, to be present in court, while the appeal 
was heard, but this request was denied. 

Messrs. Robinson, Osier and Aikens, Queen's Counsellors, 
appeared for the Crown. The conviction was sustained. 
This opinion was delivered upon the 9th of September, just 
nine days before the fatal day. The judges, Wallbridge, 
Taylor and Killam, delivered separate opinions. 

As this was a capital offense, the prisoner had the right to 
petition the Privy Counsel for an appeal. This was done, 
and a respite was obtained for the purpose of presenting the 
petition. The proceedings upon such appeal were conducted 
by Messrs. Lemieux and Fitzpatrick of counsel for Riel. The 
petition was dated September 14. On the 24th of October 
an official telegram announced that the appeal had lieen de- 
nied. 

The only hope of the doomed man seemed now to rest 
upon executive clemency on the part of the Dominion (jov- 
ernment, or interference on the part of the United States. 

A reprieve was given till November. This was length- 
ened until the i6th of that month, on the request of high ec- 
clesiastical authority, the suspense in which the prisoner had 
been kept having unfitted him for making the proper prepa- 
ration for the great change before him. 

The government at Ottawa had been engaged in a pro- 
longed conspiracy, of six months duration, having for its ob- 



iJTJZKN RIEL. 113 

ject the death of this man. They sought, however, to give 
to their acts the colour of justice. At the request of Kiel's 
friends, a commission was appointed to examine into the ques- 
tion of his sanity. This commission was one not calculated 
to favour the prisoner. It is true that General Middleton, at 
Kiel's trial, testified to his sanity. But it must be remembered 
that, although an excellent judge in military matters, the old 
general had never distinguished himself as a medical expert. 
His judgment in cases of deceptive insanity, like megalomania, 
is of little value. A man may be perfectly sane on every sub- 
ject, save one, and insane upon that one. This is monomania, 
a species of insanity recognized in the days of Shakspere and 
Cervantes. Every one knows the story related in the second 
part of Don Quixote of .the licentiate of Ossuna, confined by 
his friends in the mad-house at Seville. He was believed to 
have been restored to reason, but, as he was leaving the asy- 
lum, in a discourse with a fellow patient, he betrayed the con- 
dition of the unrestored madman. The only testimony of 
any even apparent value to the sanity of Kiel was that of 
Doctor Jukes. This gentleman, in effect, stated that Kiel was 
insane on " purely religious questions having relation to what 
may be called divine mysteries." 

Such testimony shows the value of cross-examination. To 
a person reading between the lines, it is plain that Jukes re- 
garded Kiel as a monomaniac, exactly what was contended 
for on his behalf. 

The ablest argument in favour of the theory of insanity, 
and against the conduct of the government, is the speech of 
Honourable Edward Blake, from which the author has al- 
ready quoted. The argument is learned and exhaustive. 

There can be no doubt that Kiel, though ostensibly about 
to be hanged for high treason, was really to suffer for the 
" murder " of Scott. The Honourable John S. D. Thompson, 
Minister of Justice, said upon this subject: 

" The policy of considering what the past history of the convict has been is 
8 



114 7 •///•; /; /. () <)J> OF A 11 EL . 

one which is recognized, not only in the practice of every tribunal administer- 
ing criminal justice, but is recognized by Parliament as well."* 

The Macdonakl government tried to sneak behind the mis- 
erable subterfuge that Kiel's amnest}- was conditional upon 
his remaining in banishment five years; that this had been 
violated, because, during his confinement at the Beauport asy- 
lum, he was not in banishment. The idea of a lunatic break- 
ing a compact is too absurd to deserve a serious answer. 

The Peace Society of London had solicited Her Majesty's 
interference in vain. 

The last hope was action by the government at Washing- 
ton. Bayard, President Cleveland's Secretary of State, had 
stated that the government would not intervene unless asked 
to do so. 

The government refused to investigate the question of 
Kiel's citizenship. 

Kambaut, in a foot note, makes this statement :f 

" I have not been able to get an authentic statement upon this matter [the 
citizenship of Riel]; but Hon. Joseph Tasse, M.P., editor La Minerve, has 
written me : ' There cannot be the slightest doubt of the fact that he became an 
American citizen.' " 

Mr. Kambaut could not have made a very thorough inves- 
tigation. He says: 

" Finally he [Riel] settled down as a school-teacher at Sun River, Montana, 
and in due time became an American citizen."j 

Keference to a postal guide, kept at every postoftice in the 
United States, would have revealed the fact, to the member 
of the New York bar, that Sun Kiver is in Lewis and Clarke 
county, and the further fact, that Helena is the shire town of 
that county. A letter to the clerk of the United States Court, 
enclosing one dollar, would have been honoured with a certi- 
fied copy of the record. 

But this author is not distinguished for his accuracy. He 
says that Riel was hanged on the loth day of November.g 

* Speech in Parliament, delivered March 22, 1886, page 16. f Page 159. 
% Page 150. <i Page 151). 



crrizr.x rikl. ii') 

Tliis w Titer (k-\()tcs several paiijes to Kiel's case considered 
from an international stand-point. He says: 

" Takinj,' up now tlie features of the case that have most interest for the stu- 
dent oi poHtical science, we notice, in the first place, that although the affidavit 
of indictment was evidently prepared to meet the ol)jection that Kiel was a 
naturalized American citi/en, and therefore no subject of the (Jueen, the coun- 
sel on both sides omitted all reference to this fact. It seems to be generally 
believed that Kiel was naturalized during his residence in the United .States If 
this be true, there can l)e no doubt that he ceased to be a British subject. The 
ertect of naturalization, long a mooted question between the English and Amer- 
ican governments, was definitely settled by the treaty of 1870. Kiel was ac- 
cordingly entitled to the same protection which would be due in like case to a 
native citizen of the United States. When it became evident that Riel was 
aljout to be executed under sentence of the Canadian court, the United States 
government was asked to interfere in his behalf on account of his American 
citizenship acquued during his residence in Montana. In this matter. Major 
Edmond Mallet of Washington, I). C, acted for Riel. He has very kindly 
written me a letter, in which he succinctly narrates his efforts in Kiel's behalf, 
and the position taken by our government. He says : ' I first consulted Mr 
Bayard, and he took this position substantially : 

" ' I. That it was not the duty of the government to in(|uirc into the fact of 
Riel's .-Vmerican citizenship; and, 

'• ' 2. That the government could not interfere even if he was an American 
citizen, either natural or adopted. If a case was brought to the attention of his 
department, it would be examined into; but under no circumstances could the 
government, he thought, interfere unless it was shown conclusively that he had 
been discriminated against during his trial by reason of his American citizen- 
ship. ' 

"When it became apparent to me that the Canadian government had com- 
mitted itself to the execution of Riel, under the pressure brought to bear upon 
it by the Orange lodges of Ontario, I went to the President and appealed to 
him to prevent this judicial murder. I based my appeal on the following 
[grounds]: 

" I. That Riel was an American citizen; that he had been indicted as a 
British citizen, his American citizenship having been entirely ignored, although 
offer had been made to prove the fact by documents captured at the battle of 
Batoche, and then in the Canadian government's hands; and that he had been 
tried by a half jury of six men selected by the judge, and that judge was a mere 
justice of the peace. 

" 2. That Riel was insane, — and I ofl'ered testimony to that effect, — and 

" 3. That the authority to put a human being to death for any cause what- 



11 (J 11 IK BLOOD OF ABEL. 

soever is not inherent in government, but is delegated from God, and that such 
delegated power can be exercised only in certain conditions, such as sound 
mind, etc. The President seemed much interested in the case ; expressed him- 
self in sympathy with what I told him; but he considered it a very grave matter 
to interfere. At last I asked that he send for Mr. Bayard and the British Min- 
ister, and see if an amicable understanding could be made to save Riel. The 
President then said he would consult with the Secretary of State and see what 
could be done. 

" During the night of the same day the Associated Press announced that the 
President had been constrained to decline interfering in the matter. 

" The position taken by Secretary Bayard rests on sound international law. 
(Jur government would not have been justified in interiering in the matter on 
the basis of the case presented to the Department of State. Although Riel was 
a naturalized American, he owed the Queen of Great Britain temporary alle- 
giance while living within the borders of her realm, and he made himself liable 
for breach of the criminal law of the land 

" Not only had the United States no right to interfere in Kiel's behalf, but 
the Canadian court was in the right in ignoring Kiel's citizenship. It was ab- 
solutely immaterial." 

There is little dotibt that there is a kinship between the 
feelings of Archimedes as he jumped from the bath; of New- 
ton when the idea of his greatest discovery dawned upon his 
mind; of Columbus as he gazed, for the first time, upon San 
Salvador, and the feelings of this judicial Columbus at the 
time this forensic truism first illuminated his cranium, to-wit: 

" Although Riel was a naturalized American, he owed the Queen of Great 
Britain temporary allegiance while living within the borders of her realm, and 
he made himself liable for breach of the criminal law of the land."* 

If this proposition was ever even the subject of serious de- 
bate since the foundation of the world, the writer is not aware 
of it. 

Mr. Rambaut states another thing, which is imtruc. Ed- 
mond Mallet did not appear or act for Riel,j who died in 
complete ignorance of the fact that any effort, in his behalf, 
had been made with the President. Major Mallet was a clerk 

*See pp. 159-161. f It is not meant to convey the idea that Major Mallet 
made the only effort in Kiel's behalf with the government. He made, however, 
the best presentation of the case. 



CITIZKX niKL. 11/ 

in the Treasury Department. His communications with the 
President and Secretary were between a orovernment official 
and his superiors; and were of a confidential nature. Major 
Mallet has since been discreetly reticent upon the subject. 
This is certainty, however: the attention of Grover Cleveland 
and his prime minister were called to the case and their inter- 
ference asked, and they declined lo act. Comment will be 
reserved for the close of this volume. 

Kiel had been thrice respited, by the bevy of moral cow- 
ards who composed the cabinet at Ottawa, at cabinet meet- 
ings held September loth, October 2 2d, and November loth, 
respectively. But the preparations for the execution contin- 
ued, and the day of his doom was at hand.* 

Chief Sherwood, of the Dominion Police, arrived at Re- 
gina upon a special train the evening of the fifteenth. Colonel 
Irvine and Sheriff Chapleau entered the doomed man's cell. 
He anticipated their errand. " You have come with the great 
announcement," he said. He thanked the sheriff for his 
kindness, and recjuested that his body be given to his friends 
to be buried beside his father at Saint lioniface. 

The sheriff asked him if he had any wishes to convey as to 
the disposition of his personal estate or effects. 

" Moil chet-;' replied Riel, " I have only this," touching his 
breast above the region of the heart. " This I gave to my 
country fifteen years ago, and it is all I have to give now." 

He was asked as to his peace of mind and replied: " I long 
ago made my peace with my (iod and am as prepared to die 
now as I can be at any time." 

Pere Andre, his confessor, then arrivcil. 
The sheriff read the death warrant which Sherwood had 
brought and left the doomed man with his spiritual adviser. 

RiePs prison life had set lightly upon him. For years he 
had been a total abstainer from alcohol and tobacco, and his 
~~* The account of Kiel's last hours and execution are drawn mc^stly from the 
Associated Tress dispatches. 



1 1 8 THE HI. O OD OF A BEL. 

diet had beea most abstemious. His life-long and proverbial 
urbanity had not forsaken him in prison. He had given his 
captors no trouble. 

Father Andre was never absent from the doomed man's 
side, from the reading of the warrant till the fatal drop. 
They prayed together most fervently till three o'clock, when 
Riel dozed, and finally slept soundly. In about two hours he 
awoke, and from that time till eight, when the death-bell be- 
gan to toll, he prayed almost continuously. At five o'clock 
mass was said, and at seven the last sacrament was adminis- 
tered. 

The scaff#ld was extended from the rear of the south end 
of the guard-room. It was twelve minutes past eight before 
those having tickets from the sheriff were admitted to the 
room. The prisoner was found kneeling upon the floor of 
an upper room, from which lie was to step to the scaffold. 
Around him were members of the mounted police, Sheriff 
Chapleau, Deputy Sheriff Gibson, as well as his spiritual ad- 
visers, Fathers Andre and McWilliams. The rays of the 
early sun shone through the rime which covered the small 
window. The prisoner knelt beside an open window, which 
looked out upon the gallows. He wore a loose woolen 
surtout, flannel shirt, trowsers and moccasins. 

Twenty minutes before going to the scaffold Riel wrote 
the following in French, of which a close translation is given: 

" What there is too presumptuous in my writings, I must say that by these 
presents, I subordinate it entirely to the good pleasure of my God, to the doc- 
trine of the church, and to the infallilile decisions ol the Supreme Pontiff. I 
die Catholic, and in the only true faith. 

" Louis Da\ii> Riki.. 

" l6th Nov., 1885. Regina Jail." 

He had before this written a touching letter to his mother, 
full of filial devotion. 

At a quarter past eight the doomed man received the notice 
to proceed to the scaffold. He mounted the gallows, from 
which he was never to descend alive, with the firmness of a 



en izi:.\ III EL. II" 

Sca'vohi and the rc^iy^nation of a Socrates. His arms were 
pinioned before leaving the guard-ro.)ni. As he walked upon 
the scaffold, he turned his face from the spectators, and con- 
tinued praying. Riel rallied his confessor with, " Courage, 
pere," adressing Father Andre. He was admonished by this 
priest, to pray for his enemies. He prayed for Sir Jolm A. 
Macdonald; but added a petition, that Canada might soon be 
delivered of his reign. 

Father McWilliams kisseil Riel, who said, ^' 1 believe still 

in God." 

'' To the last?" asked Father Andre. 

" Yes the verv last," answered Riel : " I believe and trust in 
Him. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy upon me." 

Dr. jukes shook hands with the prisoner, who said in Eng- 
lish: ''Thank you, doctor." Then he continued: '^ Jesus, 
Marie, Joseph, asistcz moi en ce dernier moment T 

When he was about to take his place upon the drop the 
Deputy Sheriff asked him, if he had anything to say. 

"Shall I not say a few words?" he asked of his confessor. 

"Xo," quickly replied the priest, in French; "make this 
your last sacrifice and you will be rewarded." 

Riel then turned and remarked in English, " 1 have noth- 
ing more to say." 

The cap was then drawn over his face, and the rope ;ul- 

justed. 

While these things were being done he w;is given two min- 
utes to pray. He began repeating the Pater Xoster. At the 
significant words '-'Et ne nos inducas in tentationcm^'* \.\\^ 
hangman t sprang the bolt, and the body of the condemned 
half-breed descended with a terrible cras h. The fall of eight 

■> One account says, that Kiel's last words were " Mcrci^Jesii." Another is. 
that he fell while invoking the Saints. 

t It was claimed the hangman was one Jack Henderson, who was a prisoner 
of Kiel's at Fort Garry. , Begg's book, which purports to give the names of 
Kiel's prisoners, does not mention him. See appendix I. 



120 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

feet, and the unusual weight of the man dislocated the neck. 
For a second there was no movement. Then there followed a 
slight twitching of the muscles; and in two minutes the soul of 
Louis Riel was in the presence of the Judge of All the Earth. 

During the terrible ordeal the colour had not left RieTs 
face, and there was not the tremour of a muscle. He literally 
smiled in the face of death. 

The body was cut down; the coroner's jury was empan- 
eled by Doctor Dodds, and a verdict of death by hanging 
rendered. The hair of the deceased was cut off one side of 
both head and face. All the buttons torn off the coat; the 
moccasins removed from the feet, and even the suspenders 
cut into pieces, for persons to obtain mementos of the de- 
ceased. He was placed in a plain deal cofHn to await the 
plans of the Government as to interment. 

The coffin was then nailed up, to be temporarily placed in 
the burying-ground attached to the barracks, pending the 
relatives obtaining permission to carry it to Saint Boniface, 
where it was afterwards interred. 

The account of the execution appended to Mercer Adam's 
book states, that Riel kept up his courage by praying, thus 
diverting his thoughts from the terrible death before him. 
After blistering his mendacious hand in a vain attempt to 
stamp Riel with the brand of a mercenary and a coward, it is 
hard for the Canadian to concede to him actual fortitude upon 
the scaffold. Adam, in this case, credited it to a religion in 
which he does not himself believe. 

Fortitude, in the hour of death, is oftener the result of the 
inherent power of a human will than the solace of any re- 
ligion, true or false. Socrates, Sir Thomas More, Bishop 
Cranmer and Madame Roland met death with equal firm- 
ness. These were, respectively Heathen, Catholic, Protest- 
ant and Atheist. The pious legends about the death-bed 
scenes of Paine and \'o!tairc will not stand the test of investi- 
iratioM. 



CITIZEX inKL. 121 

Dantoii, al)out to be <jiiillotinccl, said : " My dwelling shall 
soon l)e in annihilation, Init my name sh:dl live in the Pan- 
theon of historv." Saint Paul, also about to be beheaded, 
wrote to Timothy : 

" For I am even now ready to be sacrificed : and the tinie of my dlissolulion 
ih at hand. I have fought a good fight ; I have finished my course ; I have 
kept the faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which 
the Lord, the just Judge, will render to me at that day." 

Who is there that, viewing the death of these two men-- 
that is, the stern stoicism of the philosopher and the sublime 
faith of the Christian — would not exclaim in the word of Ba- 
laam: '"Let my soul die the death of the just, and let m\ 
last end be like to them." 

Tliere was great indignation in Lower Canada at the death 
of Riel. Sir John A. Macdonald was burned in eftigy in 
Montreal. The infuriated mob committed many acts which, 
three centuries ago, would have been accounted treason. Lati- 
mer and Ridley did not kindle such a fire at Smithfield, as 
did Riel at Regina. 

To pass from the sublime, to something else. Louis Riel, 
like Louis Kossuth, figured in the degraded world of fashion. 
The name of the martyr of Regina furnished an advertise- 
ment for the hatter; and the "Riel hat" was the fashion in the 
Province of Quebec. This reminds one of the hero of Auster- 
litz being left to quarrel with Sir Hudson Lowe. 

By far the most interesting view to Americans, is the one 
taken from an international stand-point. 

The facts may be briefly summarized as follows: On the 
loth day of October, 1S74, Ambrose Lepine was capitally 
convicted of the murder of Scott, at the Manitoba assizes. 
Louis Riel, a British sid^ject, having been indicted separately 
for the same crime, and his principal being convicted, was 
adjudged to be in contempt in refusing to become amenable 
to the court; :nul on the 1 ^th of the same month, a process of 
<^)uthiwrv was sued out, and a wairant was issued. On the 



122 77/A' IllJXjn OF Ml EL. 

I2th day of February, 1875, amnesty was granted to Riel on 
condition of five years' banishment; and forfeiture of polit- 
ical rights. Until this term of banishment was ended Louis 
Riel refused to become an American citizen. Eight }ears 
thereafter, on the sixteenth of March, 18S3, he became an 
American citizen by regular naturalization. In the month of 
July, 1884, he crossed the International boundary line for the 
purpose of engaging in a constitutional agitation, in the inter- 
ests of British subjects, who maintained that they were being 
deprived of their property-rights in certain lands by the Can- 
adian government, or with the permission of said government. 
On the 18th day of March, 18S4, these people, under the lead- 
ership of Louis Riel, abandoned constitutional agitation, anil 
took-up arms to secure their rights. In the suppression of 
this revolt, fire-arms were used and blood was shed. Three 
encounters were had with Riel and his followers — at Duck 
Lake, Fish Creek and Batoche, respectively. 

The defendant was arraigned upon an information contain- 
ing six counts. The first three charged, that the j^risoner, 
being a subject of the Queen, made war against Her Majest}' 
at Duck Lake, Fish Creek and Batoche, respectively. The 
other three, charged that the prisoner, living at the time with- 
in the Dominion of Canada and under the Queen's protection, 
made war against Her Majesty at the same three places. 
Upon the trial, there was no venue proven. The judge, in 
his charge, commented upon the evidence, virtually telling 
the jury how to find. The jury returneil a general \ erdict of 
guilty. Then followed the judgment and sentence of the 
court. Upoii appeal, the conviction was aflirmed. Execu- 
tive clemency was denied. The government of the L^nited 
States was asked to interfere, and refused to do so. Riel suf- 
fered the capital penalty at Regina, November 16, 1885. 

It will be contended herein, that the government should 
have interfered in the case of Riel. 

In describing the duty of the goveinment in a case like 



(ITIZEX IUI:L. 123 

Kiel's, the hmguage of President Cleveland himself will be 
employed : 

"The watchful care and interest of this government over its citizens are not 
relinciuished because they are gone abroad, and if charged with a crime com- 
mitted in the foreign land, a fair and open trial, conducted with a decent regard 
for justice and humanity, will be demanded for them."-'" 

" Out of thy own moulli I judge thee."t 

Under this rule laid down by the President, it was the duty 
of his administration to interfere, for the following reasons: 

First. Riel was not guilty of any act which could be con- 
sidered treason, when laying the question of citizenship:) en- 
tirely aside. 

Second. Riel was tried upon the theory that he was a citi- 
zen of Great Britain; and not of the United States. 

Third. The question of the prisoners sanity or insanity 
was never fairly submitted to the jury. 

Fourth. There was misconduct of the court in instructing 
the jury. 

Fifth. There was a variance between the indictment and 
the proof: 

I. Waiving, for the nonce, the question of citizenship, Riel 
was yet not guilty of an act amounting to treason. Now, 
what is treason ? Treason, in a general sense, is a " breach of 
allegiance." In a more restricted sense, it is "any act of hos- 
tility against a state, committed by one who owes allegiance 
to it." The last definition is less accurate than the following: 
" The offence of attempting to overthrow the government of 
the state to which the offender owes allegiance, or of betray- 
ing the state into the hands of a foreign power." The last 
definition includes the offence of assassinating the king, or 
corrupting the queen. For in a monarchical form of govern- 
ment, the king or queen is the personification of legitimate 
sovereignty. + Consequently, any attempt to take the life of 
the sovereign, or to corrupt the royal descent is an offence 

* President Cleveland's message to Congress, December, 1886. fl.uke, 
xix., 22. :|: Guizot's History of Civilization. 



124 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

against the state itself. The charge of treason, for which 
Rial was tried and convicted, was that of levying war against 
Her Majesty in her Realm. This species of treason is 
founded on a ver}' old statute, passed in the reign of Edward 
III. The language of that statute is as follows: 

"When a man do levy war against our lord the king in his Realm, or he 
adherent to the king's enemies in his Realm, giving them aid and comfort in 
the Realm or elsewhere, and thereof be provably attainted of open deed by the 
people of their condition, that this shall be one ground upon which the party 
accused of the offence, and legally proven to have committed the offence, shall 
be held to be guilty of high treason." 

The provision of the Constitution of the United vStates 
which defines treason, is a suhstantial copy of the old statute 
of Edward III. It is as follows: " Treason against the United 
States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in 
adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort,"* 
and-so-forth. The similarity betwixt the English statute and 
the American constitutional enactment renders the judicial in- 
terpretation of the one of value in construing the other. Fort- 
unately for the citizen, but unfortunately for the legal student, 
the crime of treason has been a stranger to our jurisprudence. 
The English decisions arc of less value because the judges 
held their positions during the royal pleasure, and royalty 
was interested in maintaining its prerogative. 

The history of the law of treason is but the record of the 
triumph of liberty over divine right — that bastard eigne of 
priest-craft and king-craft. Under that abominable despot- 
isrn which invented the Iege7n regis^ it waS treason to melt 
down the statue of an emperor, after it was consecrated ; it was 
adjudged treason. In the reign of Edward IV., a landlord, 
who kept a hotel with the sign of the crown, said he would 
make his son heir of the crown, intending an innocent pun. 
For this he was hanged, drawn and quartered; and his pros- 
pective heir attainted. In the same reign the king, while 
hunting, killed a deer. The owner wished the deer's horns 

*Constitution of the United States, Article III., Section 3. 



( rnzi:x hi el. i:i'> 

in the kinj^'s stomach. For this offence he suffered ilealh. 
In the reign of the great "reformer," Henry \'[I1., it was 
declared to be treason for a person to believe the king's mar- 
riage with Anne of Cleves to be legal and valid. Where 
there were two rivals for the throne the unsuccessful parti- 
sans suffered death. 

Judge Brackenridge savs, that, during the contest between 
the houses of Lancaster and York, England was, for years, 
nothing but a Golgotha. The definition of treason is what 
Macaulay says of the habeas corpus act — " one of the most 
stringent checks which legislation ever imposed on tyranny."* 
It is the only definition found in our fundamental law. The 
fact is significant of the fear which our fathers had for this 
dangerous plaything of tyrants. 

There are two offences which superficial and illogical 
reasoners are apt to confound. These are treason and riot. 
Riot is defined thus: " A tumultuous disturbance of the peace, 
by three persons or more, assembling together of their own 
authority with an intent mutually to assist one another, against 
any one who shall oppose them, in the execution of some 
enterprise of a private nature; and afterwards actually exe- 
cuting the same in a violent and turbulent manner, to the ter- 
ror of the people, whether the act intended were lawful or 
unlawful. "f 

Treason has already been defined. It differs from riot in 
this: the object of the traitorous proceedings must be of 
a public, and not a private nature; in the particular species 
of treason charged against Riel, there must be a levying of 
war. There may be an assembly of armed men, who may be 
furnished with guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and other weap- 
ons; they may forcibly resist the conservators of the peace 
and proceed to the last extremity. But still, unless the object 
of the assembly be of a public or general nature, there is no 
treason. The two offences of treason and riot have so many 
* History of England, Vol. i. t Bouvier, Bishop, Wharton. 



12() Till-] r.LOOl) OF Ml EL. 

ingredients in common, that one is often mistaken for the other. 
We often read of people assembling together; breaking open 
a jail, and resisting the authority of the sheriff, for tlie pur- 
pose of lynching some obnoxious criminal. But this is not 
levying war. In the year 1863, several thousand of the in- 
habitants of New York City arose in a body in resistance of 
conscription; they murdered negroes; burned an orphan asy- 
lum, and nearl}' ruined the Tribune office. Yet no one ever 
dreamt of accusing these men of treason. More than a quarter 
of a century ago, the citizens of Californiaorganized themselves 
into vigilance committees; and forcibly assumed the functions 
of the courts. But this was not levying war. If such forced 
constructions as have governed the English courts prevailed, 
there would be little safety for the subject. Such cramped 
and far-fetched constructions might convict an}' man of trea- 
son. When a child, I listened to the following logic from the 
chairman of the school-board, who was addressing the scholars : 
" If you resist your teacher, you resist me; if you resist me, 
you resist the sheriff; if 3'ou resist the sheriff, you resist the 
militia of the state."* Is the child who rebels against the 
teacher guilty of constructive treason? In this state, a few 
3ears ago, the people of certain counties organized themselves 
into bands for the alleged purpose of protecting their prop- 
erty, but for the practical purpose of hanging men accused of 
horse-stealing. These men had been obliged to sleep in their 
horse-barns for years, to prevent their animals from being 
stolen. This became monotonous; they thought the govern- 
ment was insufficient; and they took the law in their own 
hands. Without discussing the wisdom or policy of this 
course, I think no lawyer would risk his reputation in an effort 
to obtain a conviction of treason against those men. It was 
held by five judges, that a rise of all the weavers in and about 
London, for the purpose of destroying all engine-looms was 
not treason. What then is the gravamen of the offence 



Edward D. Rand, of Lisbon, N. H., afterwards Circuit Judge. 



crnziis iniiL. \i- 

of trea^^on r It i< that vvhicli must be the essential iiij^rcdicnt 
of evciv felony ami every misdemeanor, except, periiaps, 
nuisance, to-\vit: the criminal intent developed in a direct at- 
tempt to commit the particular offence char<2jed. Judj^e IJrack 
enri(lL,'-c, the HlacUstoiie of Pennsylvania, says uj>on this sub- 
ject: 

" I would in the fust ])lace lay aside constructive treasons altogether, and 
contine the law to a direct attack upon the government, and in the second 
place I would confine it to an attack, aniiiii siibvcrtendi. Will it not be easy 
then to meditate the overthrowing the government, and go on to execute it by 
a resistance to a law, and by risings for indirect purposes, without a possibility 
of making proof of an aniiiiiis siibvertendi, or conspiracy to overthrow ? Let it 
be left to the jury to presume, or infer from the acts themselves, what the inten- 
tion was ; but let it always be in view as the essence of the act, that there was a 
directly looking forward in the mind of the person to a subversion of the gov- 
ernment, before it be constructed treason. Every outrage, without this essential 
ingredient may be repressed and punished under the idea of a riot, subjecting 
to fine, pillory, imprisonment, and hard labour. This will be more agreeable 
to the common sense and feelings of mankind, who must be struck with a sense 
that the outrage is a riot, but to whom it cannot be obvious that it was medi- 
tated as an attempt upon the government itself, amounting to high treason. It 
is only by deduction and inference, that it becomes so."'-' 

The reader will remember that the Saskatchewan rebellion 
was local only, and according to Lord Melgund, the insur- 
gents only sought to defend their homes against invasion. -j- 

Whv should Riel and his followers be held guilty of trea- 
son for protecting themselves against land-thieves more than 
the "vigilantes" of Nebraska, who were defending their prop- 
ertv against the notorious Albert Wade and his gang of horse- 
thieves- Is the difference between real estate and personal 
property at the bottom of the distinction? At common law, 
a man who picked apples from his neighbour's trees without 
his permission was guilty of a simple trespass; while he who 
picked a windfall from the ground without leave was a thief, 
because the apple on the tree was attached to the realty. 

■■' Law Miscellanies, page 495. f Recent Rel^ellion in the North- West, N^ine- 
leenlli Century, .August, 1SS5. 



128 THE nUH)l) OF ABEL. 

Here now comes another curious novelty of law: The man 
who steps outside law to defend his horse is guilty of riot, 
assault or, at worst, of murder. But he who steps outside the 
law to defend his home is guilty of treason. Why? Because 
his horse is personal property, and his home is real estate. 
Profundity of logicj There was once an astute mathema- 
tician who tried to prove that the sum of the angles of an 
isosceles triangle were equal to two right angles by the music 
of the spheres. There is a great weight of authorities (Eng- 
lish) against the author's position. He agrees with Brack- 
enridge. The opinions of judges are not the law. They are 
simply the evidences of the law. 

The only evidence that Riel intended anything amounting 
to high treason was the wild statements made by him, as tes- 
tified to by Doctor John H. VVilloughby and others. Here 
follows a portion of VVilloughby's testimony: 

"Q. Go on? A. He [Riel] made a statement as to my 
knowledge of his rebellion, that is of the former rebellion in 
1870, and he said that he was an American citizen, living in 
Alontana, and that the half-breeds had sent a deputation there 
to bring- him to this country. 

" Q. What else? A. That in asking him to come they had 
told him their plans, and he had replied to them to the effect 
that their plans were useless. 

" Q. Did he say what the plans were? A. No, I believe 
not, but that he had told them that he had plans, and that if 
they would assist him to carry out those plans he would go 
with them. 

" Q. Did he tell you what those plans were? A. Yes, lie 
did.* 

" Q. What were they ? A. He said the time had now come 
when those plans were mature; that his proclamation was at 
Pembina, and that as soon as he struck the first blow here, 
that proclamation would go forth and he was to be joined by 

* A contradiction. 



CITIZEN RIEL. 129 

half-breeds and Indians, and that the United States was at his 
back. 

" Q. Did he tell you anything more? A. fie said that 
knowing him and his past history, I might know that he 
meant what he said. 

"Q. Anything else? A. He said that the time had come 
now when he was to rule this country or perish in the at- 
tempt. 

"Q. Go on? A. We had a long conversation then as to 
the rights of the half-breeds, and he laid-out his plans as to 
the government of the country. 

" Q. What did he say as to the government of the country? 
A. They were to have a new government in the North-West. 
It was to be composed of God-fearing men. They would 
have no such Parliament as the House at Ottawa. 

«Q. Anything else? A. Then he stated how he intended 
to divide the country into seven portions. 

" Q. In what manner? A. It was to be divided into seven 
portions, but as to who were to have the seven, I can not say. 

" Q. You mean to say you can not say how these seven were 
to be apportioned ? A. Yes, he mentioned Bavarians, Poles, 
Italians, Germans, Irish. There, was to be a new Ireland in 
the North-West. 

"Q. Anything more? Did he say anything more about 
himself or his own plans? A. I recollect nothing further, at 
the present time. 

"Q. You say he referred to the previous rebellion of 1S70. 
What did he say in regard to that? A. He referred to that 
and he said that that rebellion— the rebellion of fifteen years 
ago — would not be a patch upon this one." 

Any man who will believe that Riel ever uttered this lan- 
guage, or, if he did, was serious in its utterance, must discredit 
Kiel's sanity. Such language, too, was inconsistent with his 
subsequent conduct, and that of the half-breeds. 

The reader will bear in mind, that the author is not the 
9 



130 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

first person to sugo^est these ideas. The Honourable Wil- 
ham Macdougall, whose abiHty as a constitutional lawyer is 
certainly worthy of recognition, was reported as saying, that 
there had been no evidence prodiaced to show that Kiel's in- 
tention was to depose the Queen. On the contrary, he said, 
that General Middleton had reported to the government, that 
he discovered Kiel's intention was to take him prisoner, and 
hold him until the government granted the half-breeds their 
demands as to lands. This was positive proof, that Kiel had 
no intention and made no demands against the Crown, which 
alone could constitute high treason. It appears, that the privy 
council in England in giving judgment in the case, assumed 
that this fact had been admitted by Kiel's counsel at the time 
of the trial. Kiel's action, said Mr. Macdougall, was simply 
a riot, started in the hope that the government would be led 
to accord the half-breeds their rights.* 

If wrong, the author is content to " err with Plato." 

II. Next, Kiel was tried upon the theory, that he was a 
citizen of Great Britain, and not of the United States. As 
before stated, the question of his citizenship was totally ig- 
nored, after the motion for a continuance was disposed-of. 

Thomas D. Kambaut, " Ph. D.," says, that the question 
was wholly immaterial: In the words of Saint Augustine, 
" Roma locuta^ causa Jinita?'' ^ 

It is true that treason can be committed by an alien, who is 
a mere denizen, or a person within the jurisdiction of the sov- 
ereignty, the only exception which is called to mind, being in 
the case of foreign aml:)assadors, and alien enemies invading 
the country. These first, by fiction of law, are considered 
as being within the jurisdiction of the sovereignty from which 
they are accredited. The second are but the servants of the 
sovereignty to which they owe allegiance. 

So far as the capability to commit the offence of treason is 

* Chicago Tif)ies, November ii, 1885. Military report of General Middleton. 
t Rome hath spoken, the case is finished. 



CITIZEX RIEL. l;^l 

concerned, the question of citizenship is, perhaps, immaterial. 
But there is this distinction : the allegiance of the resident alien 
is temporary ; and only continues while he is domiciled within 
the country. But the allegiance of the citizen is perpetual, un- 
less he expatriate himself, and attaches to him wherever he may 
be, whether in the sands of Sahara or in the snows of Siberia. 

In all indictments for treason the allegation of venue, as in 
the information against Riel, is a customary allegation: "At 
the locality known as Fish Creek, in the said North-West 
Territories of Canada, and within this Realm," and-so-forth. 
Probably if the fact of the offender's citizenship appeared, the 
venue would not be material. 

But, in a case involving life or limb, a fact material to the 
establishment of the gravamen or gist of the offence can 
hardly be presumed against the defendant. It would seem, 
that either the citizenship or the venue would have to be es- 
tablished as a matter of proof. The latter, being the most 
salient point of such proof, would be the easy and natural one. 

There is not in the whole record of Kiel's trial, one jot or 
tittle of proof, that he committed a single overt act within the 
Realm of Her Britannic Majesty. No lawyer will claim, that 
a court could take judicial cognizance of the fact, that a wild 
stream running through a ravine was within the venue laid 
in the indictment. The lawyers who tried the cause at Re- 
ginawere not fools, and the only rational presumption is, that 
they were proceeding upon the assumption, that Riel was a 
citizen of Canada. 

It can not be contended that the Dominion government 
proceeded upon the theory of " once a citizen, always a citi- 
zen." For this relic of feudalism is, long since, exploded. 
The right of expatriation, so long contended for by America, 
was conceded by Great Britain in the treaty of 1S70.* It has 
been acknowledged by the nations of continental Europe since 
the French Revolution.f 

* Porter Morse on Citizenship, f Ibid. 



132 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

It may be contended on behalf of President Cleveland, 
that, as Kiel's counsel never urged the question of his citizen- 
ship at the trial, and as he never himself petitioned the United 
States government, the government w^as justified in refus- 
ing to even examine into the question of his naturalization. 
This is too absurd for serious refutation. Such a rule 
would have left Martin Koszta to imprisonment and death. 
If the Greeks of Homer had acted upon such a theory, 
they would have been deaf to the " groans and cries of 
Helen." 

III. The point as to Kiel's insanity was never fairly sub- 
mitted to the jury. He was tried under the old rule, which 
prevailed in England, that upon the question of sanity or in- 
sanity, the burden is upon the deilendant. This is the rule 
which prevails in most of the states of the American Union ; 
and there is nothing particularly cruel about it. 

It was shown, that Kiel had once been insane. There can 
be no doubt upon this point. He was afflicted with a most 
peculiarly deceptive form of insanity. It further appeared, 
that, at the time of the commission of the acts complained-of, 
the defendant exhibited the same symptoms which were dis- 
covered at the period of his former affliction. 

Such a state of facts established, the most careful and pains- 
taking inquiry was demanded ; the thorough sifting of the 
facts, and the scrupulous weighing of the proofs. "iThe only 
witness whose testimony was of any value was Doctor Koy. 
He unhesitatingly pronounced Kiel insane. The others had 
only a few hours' examination upon which to base an opinion 
which it required months to form witli any degree of cer- 
tainty. After the verdict, the government sought to bolster 
it up with a batch of ex-parte certificates. It is needless to 
write upon the value of cx-parte testimony, even where the 
witness is under oath. Cross-examination, as every lawyea* 
knows, is the great discoverer of falsehood. 

IV. The misconduct of the court, in commenting upon the 



n 



CITIZEN RIKL. 133 

testimony, has already been spoken of, in the account of the 
trial.* 

V. There was a material variance between the information 
and the proofs. 

Each count of the information, upon which Kiel was con- 
demned, contained the following allegation: "Together with 
divers false traitors, to the said Alexander David Stewart un- 
known," and-so-forth. 

Upon this method of pleading, that is, describing a person 
in an indictment as unknown, Mr. Bishop says: 

" Suppose it turns out on the evidence that the grand jury were wilfully igno- 
rant, and might have known the name if they had chosen ; then, the reason on 
which this form of the allegation is allowed, failing, the allegation itself will be 
held on the trial to be insufficient, or to be insufficiently sustained by the proofs 
adduced. As observed in an English case, ' The want of description is only 
excused when the name cannot be known.' In other words, since the doctrine 
which allows this form of the allegation rests on necessity, it can be sustained 
no further than its foundation extends."t 

This certainly would be necessary in a trial for high trea- 
son, a crime which, as every lawyer knows, is, like riot and 
conspiracy, impossible for one man to commit alone. It is 
impossible to believe that Alexander David Stewart had not 
heard of Gabriel Dumont and other half-breeds engaged with 
Riel. The variance was fatal. 

In speaking of President Cleveland, the writer will be 
mindful of the facts, that that man is, at present, the repre- 
sentative of over fifty millions of people; that the citizens 
who have chosen him as their standard-bearer, are the au- 
thor's countrymen; and constitute, presumably, one of the 
most enlightened nations under heaven; that before being 
called to this high position, he had been Governor of the 
great state of New York, receiving, upon his election to 
that office, the largest relative, if not absolute majority, of 
any candidate in the history of our country; that when 
elected to the presidential chair, Mr. Cleveland was an un- 

*Page no, this volume, f Criminal Procedure, Vol. I., page 335. 



134 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

known man, whose demise would hardly have caused a local 
sensation, while his opponent was a man really illustrious; 
that when elected president his competitor was one of the 
most famous men in America, with large experience in public 
affairs. 

In commenting ujDon the ofKcial conduct of the vSecretary 
of State, the writer will try to bury personal prejudice, and 
forget, that it was Thomas F. Bayard who said, that Philip 
H. Sheridan was unfit to breathe the free air of a republic. 

'' Thou shalt not speak evil of the prince of thy people," 
is the writer's scriptural motto. 

An ancient sage was once asked what was the best form 
of government. He answered, in substance, that that form 
of government was the best which treated an injury to the 
meanest citizen as a wrong to the state itself. A more accu- 
rate definition could not be framed. 

The excellence of a government is in its substance and not 
its form. A demagogue elevated to power by an ignorant 
and clamouring mob, is hardly preferable to the despot ruling 
by the ancient fiction of divine right. 

The pages of the Pentateuch and Iliad, as well as the col- 
umns of the modern newspaper, bear testimony to the will- 
ingness of a good government to protect the rights of its cit- 
izens. 

At the time of the expedition of the four kings, Lot, the 
nephew of Abraham, was taken prisoner. In those patri- 
archal days the family was the state. Thestory is told in the 
XIV. chapter of Genesis, and it is impossible to improve upon 
the simplicity of the sacred narrative: 

" \Yhen Abiam had heard, to-wit, that his brother Lot was taken, he num- 
bered of the servants born in his house, three hundred and eighteen well ap- 
pointed: and pursued them to Dan. And dividing his company, he rushed 
upon them in the night, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, 
which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the sub- 
stance, and Lot his brother with his substance, the women also and the people. 
And the King of Sodom went out to meet him after he returned from the 



CITIZEy lilEL. 13-5 

slaughter of Cliodorlahomor, and of the kings that were with him in the vale of 
Save, which is the King's vale. But Melchisedech, the King of Salem, bring- 
ing forth bread and wine, for he was the Priest of the most high God, blessed 
him, and said : }?lessed be Abram by the most high God, who .created heaven 
and earth. And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection the ene- 
mies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all. And the King of 
Sodom said to Abram : Give me the persons and the rest take to thyself. And 
he answered him: I lift up my hand to the Lord C^od, the most high, the pos- 
sessor of heaven and earth, that from the very woof-thread unto the shoe-latchet, 
I will not take of any things that are thine, lest thou say : I have enrichetl 
Abram: except such things as the young men have eaten, and ihe shares of the 
men that came with me, Aner, Escol and Mambre: these shall take their shares." 

The Mesopotamian considefed an injury done to one of his 
kin as an injury to the patriarchal state itself. 

Paul was apprehended upon the charge of sedition and sac- 
rilege. He was bound with thongs, and the torturer's lash 
was about to be administered, when the intimation that the 
prisoner was a Roman citizen stayed the uplifted hand. The 
words: Civis Romanus sum^ had such power that even a poor 
tent-maker, in an obscure province of the Roman Empire, 
could, by their single utterance, save himself from the igno- 
minious discipline of the scourge. 

An insult to the humblest of Rome's citizens was a wrong 
to the Empire itself. 

Turning from scriptural to classic tale, we read of the story 
of the Grecian Helen, carried off by Paris, the libertine prince 
of Troy. This rape of Helen was considered, by the whole 
Achaian race, as an insult, not only to Sparta, whose queen 
she was, but to Thessalians and Epirots and Argives alike. 
The Greeks fitted out an array of 1,200 vessels, and 100,000 
men. 

This great fleet set sail; but the first time they mistook a 
part of the Asiatic coast called Teuthrania, for the plains of 
Troy; and, a storm arising, they were driven back upon the 
Grecian coast. The scattered fleet was collected at Aulis, 
upon the coast of Greece. Agamemnon, according to the 
legend, is informed, that the expedition cannot jDroceed unless 



136 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

his daugher Iphigenia is sacrificed to the gods. So sacred 
were the i^ights of a Grecian, that a virgin's blood was not 
too dear a piice to be paid for the ransom of the captive 
princess. Better the death of one woman than the dishonour 
of another. 

An injury done to a frail woman was an insult, not only 
to her nation, but to the entire race. 

In the year 1847 there lived at Athens a Portuguese Jew, 
named Don Pacifico. This man was a native of Gibraltar, 
hence, by accident, a native-born subject of her Britannic 
Majesty. It had been customary amongst the Greeks to cel- 
ebrate Easter by burning an effigy of Judas Iscariot. But 
that year the police had been commanded to prevent it. The 
disappointed rabble charged this to the secret influence of the 
Jews. Poor Don Pacifico happened to live near the spot 
where the imaginary Judas was annually burned. The un- 
fortunate Hebrew, being the handiest thing, was selected by 
the mob as the devoted object of their wrath. Don Pacifico 
claimed an indemnity of nearly thirty-two thousand pounds. 
Lord Palmerston was at the head of the foreign office. He 
demanded an immediate settlement. Palmerston became pos- 
sessed of the idea that the French government was interfer- 
ing against the claim of Don Pacifico. This nearly involved 
England in a war with France. Finally Sir William Parker 
was ordered to Athens for the purpose of obtaining satisfac- 
tion. Failing in this, the Admiral blockaded the Piraeeus. 
The Greek government appealed to France and Russia, as 
powers joined with England in a treaty to protect the inde- 
pendence of Greece. The powers complained that they had 
not been consulted in the affair, when they were told, in dip- 
lomatic language, to mind their own business. During this 
controversy Lord Stanley introduced resolutions of censure 
upon the ministry. They were carried in the Upper House. 
Mr. Roebuck introduced a contrary resolution in the Lower 
House. This led to one of the most remarkable debates on 



CITIZEN RIEL. 137 

record, in which Sir Alexander Cockburn made his reputa- 
tion in support of Pahnerston. The minister triumphed, and 
the right of a despised Israelite to the protection of the flag 
under which he was born was established. 

Thus was an injury to a Portuguese Jew (surely not better 
than an educated half-breed) considered an insult to the hon- 
our of a Christian state. 

In the year 1S64, Theodore, the King of Abyssinia, im- 
prisoned Captain Cameron, a citizen of Great Britain. Two 
years later he was released on the demand of the foreign 
office; but was again remanded to prison. A second demand 
from the Queen met with no response. The British govern- 
ment fitted-out, at Bombay, an army of 4,000 English troops 
and 8,000 sepoys under Sir Robert Napier. They landed at 
Annelsey Bay. They marched through the pass of Senafe, 
and through four hundred milesof desert waste and proceeded 
to Magdala. They stormed that mountain fortress, set their 
captive countryman at liberty; and "planted the standard of 
Saint George on the mountains of Rasselas."* 

All this for the release of an obscure subject whose name 
would have been unknown to fame, but for the fact, that his 
Queen deemed his imprisonment an insult to Her Majesty. 

Who of us Americans has not felt his heart swell with pride 
at the tale of Martin Kosztaf and Captain Ingraham. We 
can almost forgive Duncan Ingraham for his subsequent trea- 
son, in view of his plucky conduct at Smyrna. The tale is 
familiar to every school-boy. 

Kostza was a Hungarian who had been engaged in the re- 
bellion of i8/|8. Subsequently, in New York, he had de- 
clared his intention of becoming an American citizen. He 
afterwards went to Smyrna, where he was seized by some 
persons in the employment of the Austrian consul. Koszta 

* Disraeli's speech in Parliament upon the elevation of Sir Robert Napier to 
the peerage, as Baron Napier of Magdala. f Porter Morse on Citizenship, pp. 
68-70, 108, 244. 



138 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

was taken out into the harbour, and thrown overboard. He 
was picked up by an Austrian man-of-war, and held a pris- 
oner. The United States consul remonstrated in vain. 

The United States sloop-of-war Saint Louis, Captain Dun- 
can N. Ingraham was in the harbour. The chivalrous com- 
mander instantly demanded Koszta's release. Upon being 
refused, he cleared his vessel for action, when the Austrian 
commander deemed it prudent to 3'ield. Koszta was given up ; 
and shipped to the United States. William L. Marcy, the then 
Secretary of State, under President Pierce, sustained Captain 
Ingraham's action, in a diplomatic correspondence with M. 
Hulseman,the c//«r^c (faffaires of Austria. 

We had a government then. Let it be remembered that 
Koszta had fled a fugitive from Austria; and while under 
ban, he had simply declared his intention of becoming an 
American citizen. Yet so jealous was Pierce's administration 
of the rights of Americans, that an injury done to one who 
only intended to become an American citizen was a wrong 
to the state itself. 

Mr. Blaine, while Secretary of State, refused to allow a 
certificate of naturalization from an American court to be 
even questioned in a proceeding upon the arbitration of a 
claim to indemnity for injury done to the property of an 
American citizen in Cuba.* This position was thought to be 
an extreme and an illegal one. But bettei", a thousand to one, 
such an error than the crime of allowing an American citizen 
to be hanged almost in sight of our border. 

The inconsistency of the foreign policy of the present ad- 
ministration is discerned by a comparison between the case of 
Louis Riel and that of Augustus K. Cutting. -j- 

Cutting was a strolling renegade; a homeless, houseless vag- 
abond. He followed the business of a printer, and belonged 
to a class with which every one is acquainted — miserable 

* /;/ re Buzzi against Spain, f Foreign Relations of the United States, 1886, 
pp. 691-708, 



CITIZEN RIEL. 139 

leeches, who frequent small towns and, calling themselves 
editors, eke out a precarious existence by levying blackmail 
upon respectable citizens, and periodically nauseating the pub- 
lic taste with printed sheets full of false syntax, poor orthog- 
raphy and worse typography. 

This man was living at Paso del Norte, Mexico, a place 
famous as being, for a long time, the seat of the Juarez gov- 
ernment; the spot where that noble patriot made his last 
stand, and refused to abandon Mexican soil. 

A gentleman, by the name of Emigdio jMedina, purposed 
starting another newspaper in the same town, which he had a 
right to do. For this crime Cutting abused him through the 
columns of his paper, El Centinela. For this libel Cutting 
was brought before the Mexican court. Under the law when 
the parties agree to and sign a reconciliation the case is dis- 
missed, which was done in this instance, Mr. Cutting being 
required by the court to publish it in his paper, which he did. 
On the iSth day of June, i8S6, Cutting crossed the river to 
El Paso, Texas, and published the following disgusting piece 
of solecism in the El Paso Herald: 

"ADVERTISEMENT.— A CARD." 

"El Paso, Tex.,///;/^' iS, iSSd. 
" To Emigdio Medina, of Paso del Norte: 

"In a late issue of El Centinela, published in Paso del Norte, Mexico, I made 
the assertion that Emigdio Medina was a ' fraud,' and that the Spanish news- 
paper he proposed to issue in Paso del Norte was a scheme to swindle adver- 
tisers, etc. This morning said Medina took the matter to a Mexican court, 
where I was forced to sign a ' reconciliation.' 

" Now, I do hereby reiterate my original assertion, that said Emigdio Medina 
is a ' fraud,' and add ' dead-beat ' to the same. Also, that his taking advantage 
of the Mexican law and forcing me to a ' reconciliation ' was contemptible and 
lO-wardly and in keeping with the odorous reputation of said Emigdio Medina. 
And should said Emigdio Medina desire ' American' satisfaction for this reitera- 
tion, I will be pleased to grant him all he may desire, at any time, in any man- 
ner.' "A. K. Cutting." 

The libel was circulated in El Paso del Norte, on the Mex- 
ican side of the river. For this offence Cutting was arrested. 



140 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

He was first charged under a law, peculiar to Mexico, 
which presumes to mete out justice for offences against Mex- 
ican citizens committed on a foi-eign soil. But the complaint 
was afterwards amended to include the publication of the libel 
in Mexico. So the charge was then similar in the nature of 
its duplicity to that preferred against Riel. 

The history of the disgusting nonsense which followed is 
familiar to the world. Our government incurred thousands 
of dollars of useless expense in behalf of a gipsy printer who 
got no more than his deserts. Sedgwick, the disciple of 
Bacchus, was sent to Mexico to impress Mexicans with the 
idea that himself and Cutting were specimens of American 
manhood. The president made Cutting's case a subject of 
special mention in his message to Congress. But the whole 
affair ended without a single concession on the part of Mexico. 

Contrast the two: Riel, who refused to become an Amer- 
ican citizen while he was under the sentence of banishment, 
was not deemed worthy of even having the question of his 
citizenship investigated. While Cutting, who sneaked behind 
his American citizenship to protect himself in the commission 
of a crime, was worthy of the most Herculean efforts of our 
government in his behalf. 

The reader will recall the fact that on the 19th day of June, 
1S67, Maximilian was shot at Queretaro. His doom was just. 
Maximilian was nothing but a common land-pirate. By the 
infamous Black Decree of October 3, 1S65, he repealed the 
laws of civilized warfare. It treated the republicans as bandits 
and allowed of no appeal. No record of the transaction was 
made, except the execution. The shooting of Thomas Scott, 
viewed from an Orangeman's stand-point, pales into tender 
mercy beside the wholesale butchery of the Austrian. The 
instrument of this cruelty was Leonard Marquez, the perpe- 
trator of the massacre of Tacubaya. The name of this blood- 
thirsty wretch should be written with those of Caligula and 
Ivan the Terrible. 



CITIZEN KIEL. 141 

Yet when Maximilian was shot a wail of pity went from 
this broad land. "Poor Carlotta! " was upon every tongue. 
And why was this? Maximilian was a prince. He was, 
with one exception, the relative of every crowned head in 
Europe; cousin to Victoria, and brother to Francis Joseph. 
We Americans are not rid of that damnable fiction of priest- 
craft and king-craft. " Whatever pleases the Prince is right." 
In Rome it was called lex regis; in Russia they call it "divine 
right." 

If Maximilian had a wife, so had Riel. Carlotta went mad ; 
Riel's wife, upon hearing the verdict, fled to the wilderness, 
and with difficulty was brought back, and after his death fol- 
lowed him to the grave, dying of a broken heart. 

Riel deserved the sympathy of all freemen, but did not re- 
ceive it. Maximilian merited his doom, but was the object 
of undeserved pity. 

This little book is not written with the expectation that 
President Cleveland will ever read it, or, if he did, that he 
would ever comprehend it. Cleveland is called a man of 
destiny. He has met, in his life, with a single misfortune. 
It was his defeat for the ofHce of County Attorney of Erie 
county. Had he been elected to that office, he might have 
learned sufficient law to have understood that, in a criminal 
case, the venue is a very material part of the proof and indis- 
pensible to a conviction. 

It is the boast of this republic that all men are free and 
equal; that the most lowly born among us can aspire to su- 
perlative political honours. We declaim of the Mill-Boy of 
the Slashes, and of the Illinois rail-splitter, who landed in 
the White House. But Clay and Lincoln were men who 
had been schooled by long experience in public affairs. The 
career of each of these men is as the growth of the oak, not 
the rise of the rocket. 

Josephus tells a tale which carries its moral with it. It is 
an account of the election of the last of the high priests. 



142 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

The glory had departed from Jerusalem ; and Ichabod was 
written upon her walls. The account is the sad stor}- of the 
degradation of a people: 

"Hereupon they sent for one of the pontifical tribes, which is called 
Eniachim and cast lots which of it should be the high priest. By fortune, the 
lot so fell as to demonstrate their iniquity after the plainest manner, for it fell 
upon one whose name was Phannias, the son of Samuel, of the village Aphtha. 
He was a man not only unworthy of the high-priesthood, but that did not know 
well what high -priesthood was : such a mere rustic was he ! Yet did they hail 
this man, without his own consent, out of the country, as if they were acting a 
play upon the stage, and adorned him with a counterfeit face; they also put 
upon him the sacred garments, and upon every occasion instructed him what 
he was to do. This horrid piece of wickedness was sport and pastime with 
them, but occasioned the other priests, who at a distance saw their law made a 
jest of, to shed tears and sorely lament the dissolution of such a sacred dignity."* 

There is an old proverb: "Put a beggar on horseback, 
and unto the devil he will ride." 

* Wars of the Jews, Book IV., Chapter III. 



Appendices, 



APPENDIX A. 145 



APPENDIX A. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



I CONFESS myself under obligations to the following 
named gentlemen for valuable aid and assistance in the 
completion of this work: 

FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. 

To Honourable Charles H. Van Wyck, Nebraska City; 
Honourable Charles F. Manderson, Omaha, Nebraska; 
to my townsman, Honourable Edward K. Valentine; 
George W. Burbridge, Sir Frederick D. Middleton and 
Benjamin Sulte of Ottawa, Canada; Honourable Edward 
Blake and James Baine & Son, of Toronto, Canada. 

FOR FACTS. 

To Sir Frederick D. Middleton, before named; Hon- 
ourable Hugh Richardson, of Regina; Joseph Riel, 
brother of Louis, who writes from Saint Vital, Manitoba; 
The Most Reverend Alexander Antonin Tache, Arch- 
bishop of Saint Boniface, and Father Ernster, the assistant 
of my friend and pastor, the Reverend Joseph Ruesing, 
pastor of Saint Mary's church, West Point. 

For kind words and valuable typographical suggestions: 
To my friend, Grant Neligh, of this city. 

I must not forget my little amanuensis. Zed Briggs. 

lO 



14() THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

1 have read the following books, pamphlets and papers: 

The Creation of Manitoba, or History of the Red Ri\er 
Troubles, by Alexander Begg. 

Adam, G. Mercer. The North- West: Its History and 
Its Troubles. Toronto, 1SS5. 

Canadian Public Documents. The Queen vs. Louis Riel. 
Ottawa, 1 886. 

Rebellion in North-West Canada, The Nineteentli Coit- 
ury., August, 1885. 

Mui.vaney, Charles PELHA^L History of the North- 
West Rebellion. Toronto, 1S85. 

RuNDALL, Thomas. Voyages toward the North-West, 
1496 to 1 63 1. Hakluyt Society Publication. Statutes, 
Papers, and Canadian Public Documents. 

Beside the foregoing, I have consulted the files of various 
newspapers of Canada and of the United States. 

I have read: 

Rebellion Number of the Winnipeg Szin. 

Speech of Honourable Edward Blake, delivered in 
House of Commons at Ottawa, March, 18S6. 

Speech of Honourable John S, D. Thompson, delivered 
in the House of Commons. 

Manitoba ; Its Infancy, Growth, and Present Condition, 
Professor Bryce. 

Campaign speeches of Honourable Edward Blake, pub- 
lished in pamphlet form: Hunter, Rose & Co., Toronto. 

Thomas D. Rambaut's book, and others too numerous 
to mention. 

Professor Goodrich, of Burlington, Vt,, has the thanks of 
his old pupil for critical suggestions. 

I have other sources of information, that I do not feel at 
liberty to disclose. 

W. F. B. 

West Point, /S87. 



I 



APPi:xi)ix n. 



APPENDIX B. 



[Indictment upon ]Vhi<]i Rid Was Oaf/aiocd.l 



HOXI SOir Qlf MAL Y PENSE. DIEU ET MOS DROIT. 



■>A, . 

Manitoba, j 



CANADA, 

Court of Queen s Bench. [Cro'on Side.) 
Province of 



November Term, 1S73. 



•^ I ^IIE jurors for our Lady the Queen, upon their oath, 
^ present : 

That Louis Riel, on the fourth day of March, in the year 
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, at Upper 
Fort Garrv, a place then known as being and lying and 
situate in the district of Assinniboia, in the Red River settle- 
ment, in Rupert's Land, and now known as being, lying and 
situate at Winnipeg, in the county of Selkirk, in the Province 
of Manitoba, Dominion of Canada, feloniously, wilfully and 
of his malice aforethought, did kill and murder one Thomas 
Scott.* 

Against the form of the statute, in such case made and pro- 

* It is unnecessary to point out to a criminal lawyer, that the charging part 
of this indictment is good for nothing. Under sucli pleading, a man might be 
convicted of shooting, stabbing or poisoning, and-so-on, aJ infimtuin. 



148 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

vided, and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, her 
Crown and dignity. 

[Signed] HENRY J. CLARKE, Q.C., 

Attorney- General. 



Ilncl07'sed as Follows:'^ 
No. i8. Court of Queen's Bench (Crown side), Manitoba. 
November Term, 1873. The Queen against Louis Riel. 
Indictment for murder. A true bill. 

[Signed] W. S. LANSDALE, 

Foreman. 

Fyled this 15th November, 1S73. Judgment of outlawry 
this lothday of February, a.d. 1675. 

[Signed] DANIEL CASEY, 

Prothonotary and Clerk of Crown and Peace. 



APPENDIX a 14!» 



APPENDIX C. 



[Copt/ of (he Record of BieVs Naturalization.] 



ly THE r. S. DISTRICT COURT OF THE THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE 
TERRITORY OF MONTANA. 



Present: Hon. D. S. WADE, Judge. 



In the Matter of the Application of "| IN^ OPEN COURT, 
LOUIS DAVID RIEL, an Alien, | -'^^arch Term, A.D. 18S3, 

this ibth day of March, 
A.D. 1883, as yet of said 
States of America. J Ter?ii. 



To Become a Citizen of the United 



IT appearing to the satisfaction of this court, by the oaths 
of E. L. Merrill and Levi Jerome, citizens of the United 
States of America, witnesses for that purpose; first duly 
sworn and examined, that Louis David Riel, a native of 
Canada, has resided within the limits and under the jurisdic- 
tion of the United States five years at least, last past, and 
within the Territory of Montana for one year last past; and 
that during all of said five years' time he has behaved as a 
man of good moral character, attached to the principles of 
the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to 
the good order and happiness of the same; and it also 
appearing to the Court, by competent evidence, that the said 
applicant has heretofore, and more than two years since, and 



150 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

in due form of law, declared his intention to become a citizen 
of the United States, and having now here, before this 
Court, taken an oath that he will support the Constitution of 
the United States of America, and that he doth absolutely 
and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to 
every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty what- 
ever, and particularly to Victoria, Queen of Great Britain. 
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the said 
Louis David Riel be and he is hereby admitted and declared 
to be a citizen of the United States of America. 

D. S. WADE, 
Judge. 
Signature: LOUIS DAVID RIEL. 



Office of the Clerk of the United ^ 
States District Court of the Third I 
Judicial District of the Territory ' ^^' 
of Montana. J 

I, B. K. Tatem, Clerk of the United States DistrioJ: Court 
of the Third Judicial District of the Territory of Montana, 
said court being a court of record, having common law 
jurisdiction, and a Clerk and Seal, do certify that the above 
is a true copy of the Act of Naturalization of Louis David 
Riel as the same appears upon the records of said court now 
in my office. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and 
affixed the seal of the said court this 9th da}' of 

[l.s.] October, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and eighty-six, and in the year of 

our Independence the iiith. 

B. K. TATEM, 

ClerL 
By C. G. REYNOLDS, Deputy Clerk. 



APF'EXDIX I>. l.-)I 



APPENDIX D. 



[Iiifoi-mation upon Which Eicl ivas Tried, Convicial and Executed. '\ 



SIXTH (lay of July, in the year of our Lord iS<S5,at the 
town of Regina, in the North-West Territories. 

Before me, Hugh Richardson, one of the Sti^oendiary Mag- 
istrates, of the North-West Territories, exercising criminal 
jurisdiction under the provisions of the North- West Act, iS8o. 

Louis Riel, you stand charged on oath before me, as follows: 

" The information and complaint of Alexander David 
Stewart, of the city of Hamilton, in the Province of Ontario, 
in the Dominion of Canada, chief of police, taken the sixth 
day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun- 
dred and eighty-five, before the undersigned, one of Her 
Majesty's Stipendiary Magistrates, in and for the said North- 
West Territories of Canada, who saith: 

"I, That Louis Riel being a subject of Our Lady the 
^ueefi^., not regarding the duty of allegiance, nor having the 
fear of God in his heart, but being moved and seduced by 
the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our said 
Lady the Queen, and wlfolly withdrawing the allegiance, 
fidelity and obedience which every true and faithful subject 
of our said Lady the Queen, should and of right ought to 
bear towards our said Lady the Queen, in the year aforesaid, 
on the twenty-sixth day of March, together with divers other 
false traitors, to the said Alexander David Stewart unknown, 
armed and arrayed in a warlike manner, that is to say, with 
* The Italics are mine. 



152 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and other weapons, being then 
unlawfully, maliciously and traitorously assembled and gath- 
ered together against our said Lady the Queen, at the locality 
known as Duck Lake, in the said the North- West Territories 
of Canada, and within this Realm, and did then maliciously 
and traitorously attempt and endeavour by force and arms to 
subvert and destroy the constitution and government of this 
Realm, as by law established, and deprive and depose our 
said Lady the Queen of and from the style, honour and kingly 
name of the Imperial Crown of this Realm, in contempt of 
our said Lady the Queen and her laws, to the evil example 
of all others in the like case offending, contrary to the duty 
of the allegiance of him, the said Louis Riel, against the form 
of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the 
peace of our said Lady the Queen, her Crown and dignity. 

"2, And the said Alexander David Stewart further saith: 
That the said Louis Riel, being a subject of our Lady the 
Queen, not regarding the duty of his allegiance, nor having 
the fear of God in his heart, but being moved and seduced by 
the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our Lady 
the Queen, and wholly withdrawing the allegiance, fidelity 
and obedience which every true and faithful subject of our 
said Lady the Queen should and of right ought to bear to- 
wards our said Lady the Queen, on the twenty-fourth day of 
April, in the year aforesaid, together with divers other false 
traitors, to the said Alexander David Stewart unknown, armed 
and arrayed in a warlike manner, that is to say, with guns, 
rifles, pistols, bayonets and other weapons, being then unlaw- 
fully, maliciously and traitorously assembled and gathered 
together against our said Lady the Queen, most wickedly, 
maliciously and traitorously did levy and make war against 
our said Lady the Queen, at the locality known as Fish 
Creek, in the said the North- West Territories of Canada, and 
within this Realm, and did then maliciously and traitorously 
attempt and endeavour by force and arms to subvert and de- 



APPEXDIX D. 153 

sti"oy the constitution and government of this Realm, as by 
law established, and deprive and depose our said Lady the 
Queen of and from the style, honour and kingly name of the 
Imperial Crown of this Realm, in contempt of our said Lady 
the Queen and her laws, to the evil example of all others in 
the like case offending, contrary to the duty of the allegiance 
of him, the said Louis Riel, against the form of the statute in 
such case made and provided, and against the peace of our 
said Lady the Queen, her Crown and dignity. 

"3. And the said Alexander David Stewart further saith: 
That the said Louis Riel, being a subject of our Lady the 
Queen, not regarding the duty of his allegiance, nor having 
the fear of God in his heart, but being moved and seduced 
by the instigation of the devil, as a traitor against our said 
Lady the Queen, and wholly withdrawing the allegiance, 
fidelity and obedience which every true and faithful subject 
of our said Lady the Queen should and of right ought to 
bear towards our said Lady the Queen, on the ninth, tenth, 
eleventh and twelfth days of May, in the year aforesaid, to- 
gether with divers other false traitors, to the said Alexander 
David Stewart unknown, armed and arrayed in a warlike 
manner, that is to say, with guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and 
other weapons, being then unlawfully, maliciously and trai- 
torously assembled and gathered together against our said 
Lady the Queen, most wickedly, maliciously and traitorously 
did levy and make war against our said Lady the Queen, at 
the locality known as Batoche, in the said the North-West 
Territories of Canada, within this Realm, and did then mali- 
ciously and traitorously attempt and endeavour, by force and 
arms, to subvert and destroy the constitution and govern- 
ment of this Realm, as by law established, and deprive and 
depose our said Lady the Queen of and from the style, 
honour and kingly name of the Imperial Crown of this 
Realm, in contempt of our said Lady the Queen and her 
laws, to the evil example of all others in like case offending, 



154 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

contrary to the duty of the allegiance of him, the said Louis 
Riel, against the form of the statute in such case made and 
provided, and against the peace of our said Lady the Queen, 
her Crown and dignity. 

"4. And the said Alexander David Stewart further saith : 
That the said Louis Riel, then living- -within the Dominio?i of 
Canada and under the protection of our Sovereign Lady the 
^ueen^, not regarding the duty of his allegiance, nor having 
the fear of God in his heart, hut being moved and seduced by the 
instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our said Lady 
the Queen, and wholly withdrawing the allegiance, fidelity 
and obedience which he should and of right ought to bear 
towards our said Lady the Queen, on the twenty-sixth day of 
March, in the year aforesaid, together with divers other false 
traitors, to the said Alexander David Stewart unknown, 
armed and arrayed in a warlike manner, that is to say, with 
guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and other weapons, being then 
unlawfully, maliciously and traitorously assembled and gath- 
ered together against our said Lady the Queen, most wick- 
edly, maliciously and traitorously did levy and make war 
against our said Lady the Queen, at the locality known as 
Duck Lake, in the said the North-West Territories of Canada, 
and within this Realm, and did then maliciously and traitor- 
ously attempt and endeavour by force and arms to subvert and 
destroy the constitution and government of this Realm, as 
by law established, and deprive and depose our said Lady 
the Queen of and from the style, honour and kingly name of 
the Imperial Crown of this Realm, in contempt of our said 
Lady the Queen and her laws, to the evil example of all others 
in like case offending, contrary to the duty of the allegiance of 
him, the said Louis Riel, against the form of the statute in 
such case made and provided, and against the peace of our 
said Lad}'^ the Queen, her Crown and dignity. 

"5. And the said Alexander David Stewart further saith: 

* The Italics are mine. 



APPEyDIX I). loo 

That the said Louis Riel,then hving within the Dominion of 
Canada, and under the protection of our Sovereign Lady the 
Queen, not regarding the duty of his allegiance, nor having 
the fear of God in his heart, but being moved and seduced 
by the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our 
said Lady the Queen, and wholly withdrawing the alle- 
giance, fidelity and obedience which he should and of right 
ought to bear towards our said Lady the Queen, on the 
twenty-fourth day of Ajiril, in the year aforesaid, together 
with divers other false traitors, to the said Alexander David 
Stewart unknown, armed and arrayed in a warlike manner, 
that is to say, with guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and other 
weapons, being then unlawfully, maliciously and traitorously 
assembled and gathered together against our said Lady the 
Queen, most wickedly, maliciously and traitorously did levy 
and make war against our said Lady the Queen, at the locality 
known as Fish Creek, in the said the North-West Territories 
of Canada, and within this Realm, and did then maliciously 
and traitorously attempt and endeavour by force and arms to 
subvert and destroy the constitution and government of this 
Realm, as by law established, and deprive and depose our said 
Lady the Queen of and from the style, honour and kingly 
name of the Imperial Crown of this Realm, in contempt of 
our said Lady the Queen and her laws, to the evil example 
of all others in like case offending, contrary to the allegiance 
of him, the said Louis Riel, against the form of the statute in 
such case made and provided, and against the peace of our 
said Lady the Queen, her Crown and dignity. 

"6. And the said Alexander David Stewart further saith: 
That the said Louis Riel, then living within the Dominion of 
Canada, and under the protection of Our Sovereign Lady 
the Queen, not regarding the duty of his allegiance, nor having 
the fear of God in his heart, but being moved and seduced 
by the instigation of the devil, as a false traitor against our 
said Lady the Queen, and wholly withdrawing the allegiance. 



156 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

fidelity and obedience which he should and of right ought to 
bear towards our said Lady the Queen, on the ninth, tenth, 
eleventh and twelfth days of May, in the year aforesaid, to- 
gether with divers other false traitors, to the said Alexander 
David Stewart unknown, armed and arrayed in a warlike 
manner, that is to say, with guns, rifles, pistols, bayonets and 
other weapons, being then unlawfully, maliciously and trai- 
torously assembled and gathered together against our said 
Lady the Queen, most wickedly and maliciously and traitor- 
ously did levy and make war against our said Lady the Queen, 
at the localit}' known as Batoche, in the said the North-West 
Territories of Canada and within this Realm, and did then ma- 
liciously and traitorously attempt and endeavour by force and 
arms to subvert and destroy the constitution and government 
of this Realm, as by law established, and deprive and depose 
our said Lady the Queen of and from the style, honour and 
kingly name of the Imperial Crown of this Realm, in con- 
tempt of our said Lady the Queen and her laws, to the evil 
example of others in like case offending, contrary to the duty 
of allegiance of him, the said Louis Riel, against the form of 
the statute in such case made and provided, and against the 
peace of our said Lady the Queen, her crown and dignity." 
[Signed] " A. D. STEWART." 

Sworn before me, the day and year first above mentioned, 
at the town of Regina, in the North-West Territories of 
Canada. 

[Signed] HUGH RICHARDSON, 

A Stipendiary Magistrate 
In and for the North-West Territories of Canada. 



APPENDIX E. 157 



APPENDIX E. 



{Open Letter of Louis Piet, Published in the Irish World of No- 
vember 21, 1885.] 



[The following is one of the most scathing arraignments of British tyranny 
ever published, since the day Junius indicted his celebrated letter to the king.] 



To the Citizens of the United States of America, 

FELLOW-MEN :— The outside world has heard but little 
of my people since the beginning of this war in the 
North- West Territory, and that little has been related by 
agents and apologists of the bloodthirsty British Empire. 
As of old, England's infernal machination of Falsehood has 
been employed to defame our character, to misrepresent our 
motives, and to brand our soldiers and allies as cruel savages. 
These things T learn from American papers, which come to 
me through the same channel that I send this to you. The 
end which our enemies have in view is plain. Their object 
is to prevent good people from extending to us their sympa- 
thy while they themselves may rob us in the dark and murder 
us without pity. 

Of one hundred or more papers that now lie in my tent, 
The Irish World, I find, is the only true friend we have. In 
the columns of this far-famed journal, the truth is fully told. 
England's organs in the United States and Canada falsely 
aver that my people have no grievances. To contradict their 
false statements, I now write to the defender of the oppressed, 



158 



THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 



Mr. Patrick Ford, whose Irish World will publish a true 
statement of the facts in all corners of the globe. 

Our lands in the North-West Territory, the possession of 
which was solemnly confirmed by government fifteen years 
ago, have since been torn from us, and given to land-grabbers 
who never saw the countr}' — and this after we had cut down 
forests, plucked up stumps, removed rocks, ploughed and 
seeded the soil, and built substantial homes for ourselves and 
our children. 

Nearly all the good, available lands in this territory (as is 
the case with the lands East of the Rocky Mountains) are 
already in the clutches of English lords, who have large herds 
of cattle grazing thereon; and the riches which these lands 
produce are drained out of the country and sent over to Eng- 
land to be consumed by a people that fatten on a system that 
pauperizes us. 

This wholesale robbery and burglary has been carried on, 
and is still carried on, with the connivance of accursed England. 
The result is extermination or slavery. Against this mon- 
strous tyranny we have been forced to rebel. It is not in 
human nature to qiiietly acquiesce in it. 

In their treatment of us, however, the behaviour of the 
English is not singular. Follow those pirates the world over, 
and you will find that everywhere, and at all times, they 
adopt the same tactics, and operate on the same thievish lines. 

Ireland, India, the Highlands of Scotland, Australia, and 
the isles of the Indian Ocean — all these countries are the sad 
evidences, and their native populations are the witnesses of 
England's land-robberies. 

Even in the United States — and it is a burning shame for 
the government and the people of that great and free nation 
to have it to be said — English lords have, within a few short 
years, grabbed territory enough to form several large states. 
Alas! for the people of your country ! Alas! for the govern- 
ment for whose independence and glory the soldiers of George 



APPENDIX E. 159 

Washington fought hart'-foot against the cut-throats antl 
hell-hounds of Enghuid I Alas! that this same evil power 
should be allowed to return and reconquer so much of your 
nation without a shot being fired or even a word of protest 
being uttered in the name of the American people! 

Your government, which has allowed her citizens to be 
robbed of their heritage by English lords and English capi- 
talists, has also given aid and comfort to the English in per- 
mitting her General* Howard to come to Manitoba and the 
North-West Territory to school the assassins that were sent 
from Toronto to murder me and my people, and to give the 
Queen's Own lessons in handling the American Gatling gun, 
as well as in granting license to British soldiers and British 
ammunition intended for our destruction to pass over Am'er- 
ican soil. By its conduct in this entire business the adminis- 
tration at Washington has made the United States the ally of 
England in fighting a people who are fighting only for homes 
and firesides. Does it require two powerful nations, such as 
the United States and England, to put down the Saskatche- 
wan rebellion ? Grover Cleveland and Secretary Bayard have 
much to answer for. 

It is now evident, as The Irish World has charged, that 
these two high officials of the United States are more Eng- 
lish than American. The animus they have shown towards 
my people and me for the past two months, as well as the 
friendship and aid they have extended to our enemies, is but 
an additional confirmation of what has been charged against 
them. 

Can it be possible that the American people, or any con- 
siderable portion of them, have any real sympathy with Eng- 
land? Have they not read, has it not come down to them 
from bleeding sire to son, of the crimes and the atrocities and 
fiendish cruelties which that wicked power inflicted upon 

* Riel was mistaken. This creature was not a general; neither was he a 
soldier of our government. 



160 IHE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

their patriotic fathers during the Revolution? Of the Amer- 
ican towns wantonly given to the flames by order of English 
commanders; of the horrors of the English prison ships, and 
the barbarities imposed by the English upon American pris- 
oners of war? Does not American history record the out- 
rages perpetrated by England upon American commerce and 
American citizenship which led to the war of 1812? And is 
it not still fresh in the memory of men of middle age how, 
when the republic was engaged in a life-and-death struggle 
with the slave-holders' rebellion, England gloated over your 
troubles and sent her sympathy and her money and her armed 
ships to your enemies to destroy your Union and to bring the 
American name in disgrace before the world ? Generous minds 
forgive injuries, but spaniels lick the hand that smites them. 
The Americans are not spaniels; but there are sycophants and 
lickspittles in America, nevertheless, and those base natures 
are but to the honest people of to-day what the Tories were 
to the honest and patriotic people a century ago. They are 
not Americans. 

A word here to the French and Irish of Canada, and I am 
done: I beg and pray, that they will not allow themselves to 
be induced by any threats or by any blandishments to come 
out against us. Our cause is just, and therefore no just man 
of any race or nationality ought to stand opposed to us. The 
enemies who seek our destruction are strangers to justice. 
They are cruel, treacherous and bloody. And yet, like the 
tiger, they are only obeying the instincts of their nature. But 
for the Irish people, who for centuries have been robbed and 
massacred and hunted from their island home by the Eng- 
lish, and whose good name is reviled by the English in all 
lands, or for the Canadian French, who are subjected to the 
grossest and most ruffianly abuse from the same, to aid in 
any way these enemies would be not only wrong but stupid 
and unnatural. 

In a littl« while it will be all over. We may fail. But the 



APPEynix E. 161 

rights for which we contend will not die. A day of reckon- 
ing will come to our enemies and of jubilee to my people. 
The hated yoke of English domination and arrogance will 
be broken in this land, and the long-suffering victims of their 
injustice will, with God's blessing, re-enter into the peaceful 
enjoyments of their possessions. 

LOUIS KIEL. 
Batoche, N. W. T., May 6, /SSj. 



^^Mm-^^m 



162 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 



APPENDIX F. 



{Letfcr of Major Mallet to the Editor of The TraveUer.] 

[translation.] 

Washington, D. C, August 24, iSSj. 

DEAR FRIEND GAGNON— The journals which I 
have received during the past two days, indicate that 
there is great diversity of views among our Canadian jour- 
nahsts in the United States in regard to the rights which 
American citizenship confers upon Louis Riel, in his pres- 
ent unfortunate situation. I notice, too, that pubHc meetings 
are being held, and petitions signed, and that these meetings 
and petitions are not agreed upon the best method to proceed 
to arrest the execution. Evidently there is danger that the 
generous, humane action of our people may be devoid of in- 
fluence, by reason of the diversity of views expressed or the 
poverty of the arguments advanced in the memorials ad- 
dressed to our government, asking its interference in Riel's 
case. 

Being desirous to ascertain the views of the Department of 
State in regard to this matter, so as to satisfy mj'self, and, if 
opportunity afforded, be of service to my compatriots, I called 
on Secretary Bayard this afternoon to talk over the matter 
with him. We discussed the subject together at considerable 
length. From our interview 1 can say that the following is 
substantially the views of the department of state; of course 
the form in which it is expressed is my own: 

First. The American government will not take the initia- 
tive in examining into Riel's citizenship or the rights there- 
under.* 



* This absurdity is without precedent, and devoid of common sense. 



APPENDIX F. KCi 

Scco)id. The government has so far done nothin<^ in the 
matter, except to inquire of the War Department as to the 
truth or falsity of a statement to the effect that Kiel was cap- 
tured on American soil. This information was asked for to 
reply to a New York correspondent who inquired concerning 
the matter. The secretary read me his repl}', which is unim- 
portant. 

Third. The government will take no action in the case, 
unless the matter is presented to its attention in a formal 
manner, the facts and arguments upon which the interference 
of the government is invoked to be properly stated in writing. 

Fourth. The government would not be disposed to in- 
quire into or review the proceedings of the court which tried 
Riel, unless it was shown that he was discriminated against, 
/. <?., that he was tried by harsher methods than a Canadian 
citizen would have been tried by.* 

Fifth. The government recognizes the principle that every 
country has a right to determine for itself what constitutes 
treason, and it would not be disposed to question Canada's 
right to try Riel for treason even though he be a native or 
naturalized citizen of the United States. I understand the 
secretary to say that Kiel's case was like some of the Irish 
so-called revolutionists, so far as it regards this government, 
and that the American government would do all that was 
proper for Riel as it had done for the others. 

With these views of the department of state before us it 
seems to me that our duty is traced more clearly. 

You are aware that I knew Riel intimately both before 
and after his becoming insane. Knowing the material he is 
made of, as well as his intimate views and aspirations, I be- 
lieve that -when he gave himself up (when he could have 
escaped with Dumont) he did so with the determined pur- 



* It is presumed, that if Canadian courts were in the habit of using torture in 
the trial of Canucks, Secretarj' Bayard would not object to their using it upon 
American citizens resident in Canada. 



164 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

pose of having himself put to death as the best means of 
serving his people and country. I am of the opinion that in 
madness he acted with an extreme sagacity which he might 
have been devoid of with his wits. If Riel is executed, mark 
me! the children of his executors, in the not-distant future, 
will erect monuments to his memory. You know the history 
of Pontiac! Riel is the Pontiac of the XIX. century. 

Yours Truly, 

EDMOND MALLET. 



APPEXniX a. 1G.5 



APPENDIX G. 



[C'opi/ of Lrfdr from Jfajor FaJ)iioii(1 MaUd /o Mr. T/iohkin J). 
Jiionhdut.'] 



February g, iSS6. 
Thomas D. Rambaut, Esq., Nc-.o York, N. Y. 

DEAR SIR: — Your note finds me on the eve of my de- 
parture from the city for a few days, and in the midst 
of such occupations that is really impossible for me to find 
the newspaper articles which appeared relative to my efforts 
to have the U. S. Government interfere in the Riel case. I 
will now give you the substance of what was done, and if that 
does not quite answer your purpose, let me know, and I will 
give you fuller indications next week. 

I first consulted Mr. Bayard, and he took this position, sub- 
stantially : 

( I ) That it was not the duty of the government to inquire 
into the fact of Riel's American citizenship, and (2) that the 
government could not interfere even if he was an American 
citizen, either natural or adopted. If a case was brought to 
the attention of his department it would be examined into, but 
under no circumstances could the government, he thought, 
interfere, unless it was shown conclusively that he had been 
discriminated against during his trial by reason of his Ameri- 
can citizenship. 

When it became apparent to me that the Canadian Gov- 
ernment had committed itself to the execution of Riel, under 
the pressure brought to bear upon it by the Orange lodges of 
Ontario, I went to the president and appealed to him to pre- 



166 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 

vent this judicial murder. I based my appeal on the follow- 
ing: (i) That Riel was an Americaji citizen, that he had 
been indicted as a British citizen, his American citizenship 
having been entirely ignored, although offer had been made to 
prove the fact by documents captured at the battle of Batoche, 
and then in the Canadian Government's hands, and that he 
had been tried by a half jury of six men, selected by the 
judge, and that judge was a mere justice of the peace; (3) 
that Riel was insane; and I offered testimony to that effect; and 
(3) that the authority to put a human being to death for any 
cause whatsoever is not inherited in government, but is dele- 
gated from God, and that such delegated power can be exer- 
cised only in certain conditions, such as sound mind, etc. The 
president seemed much interested in the case, expressed him- 
self in sympathy with what I told him; but he considered 
it a very grave matter to interfere. At last I asked that he 
send for Mr. Bayard and tlie British minister, and see if an 
amicable understanding could be made to save Riel. The 
president then said he would consult with the secretary of 
state and see what could be done. During the night of the 
same day the Associated Press announced that, to my appeal, 
the president had been constrained to decline interfering in 
the matter. 

Respectfully Yours, 

EDMOND MALLET. 



APPENDIX 11. 1H7 



APPENDIX H 



[Letter from Father Driniien-^.l 



St. Peter's Mission, St. Peter P. O., Montana, /««. /y, iSSy. 
Mr. Wilbur F. Bryant, Judge, West Point, Nebr. 

DEAR SIR: — Your favor at hand and in reply I would 
say that Louis Riel was here just prior to the North- 
West Rebellion and he left this place at the request of a del- 
egation composed of three half-breed men, who came after 
him from tli^ir northern country. He lived here about six 
months. He was married to a half-breed girl called Mar- 
guerite Monete from whom he had two children: John, born 
9th May, 1882, and Mary Angelica, born iith Sept., 1S83. 
The girl was born here, and the boy somewhere down the 
Missouri or Musselshell while Riel was living on the prairie 
among the half-breeds. Politics was his principal thought, 
[you] might say, and in the last years from the democrat [he] 
passed to the republican party. Sun River is a small place 
and he lived not in town, but here around the Mission, which 
is about 20 miles distant from Sun River. He was making 
his living teaching school and [it] would have been better 
for him, as he was told, to stick at it and retire entirely from all 
politics; but his mind was changed there, and this brought the 
unfortunate man to such a frightful end. With kindest re- 
gards, I remain 

Yours Respectfully, 

J. DAMIEN.S, S. J. 



168 THE BLOOD OF ABEL. 



APPENDIX I, 



{^Letter from Colonel Hurjli Jiic/ia/rhon, (he Stipendiary Magistrate 
Who Tried Riel.'] 



Regina, 26ih April, /SSy. 
t^TC^ Y DEAR SIR: — I reply to the queries contained in 
^ " A your letter of 21st inst,, received here to-day. 

The officer charged with the execution of "Riel" was the 
sheriff of the N. W. T., the actual duty, as I have understood, 
being joerformed by his deputy, under the sheriff's supervision. 
Who the hangman was I know not, nor is it known beyond 
a sort of rumour that one Henderson so acted^and [as to] 
whether or not this man had been a prisoner of Riel's in the 
earlier rebellion, 1 am ignorant. I was not in the country 
until 1876, and except traveling through the Red River 
country on my way West, and an occasional visit to Winni- 
peg since '76, I know but little of the people. 

There is, or was not long since, a man John Henderson 
here, who is a half-breed hailing from Red River, a freighter 
by occupation, and also a guide, having formerly, it is said, 
been a plain hunter. The duty of "executing the law," 
however, devolves by express statute upon the sheriff. 

In the winter of 1S84 a gallows was erected for the execu- 
tion of two men: Stevenson, who suffered the penalty for 
the murder of a settler. This, as I have been told, was used 
again in '85, when Connor was hanged, and later in the exe- 
cution of Riel, and still subsists as part of the "public gaol 
paraphernalia." Yours, Very Truly, 

HUGH RICHARDSON. 



APPENDIX J. 



APPENDIX J. 



ERRATA ET CETERA, 



1. At page 12, supply "the" before the proper name 
"Belly." 

2. At page 38, for « Cotta " read " Cottu." 

3. At page 65, for " Belliinense " read " Bellimeure." 

4. At page 79, for " uptopian " read " Utopian." 

5. At page Si, for " isoseles " read "isosceles." 

6. At page 84, for " coulee-ravine " (as a compound word ) 
read "coulee — ravine," (separated with dash), the entire ex- 
pression: "Ravine, with stream running through it," being 
the appositive of " coulee." 

7. At page 85, for " Marchard " read " Marchand." 

8. At page 94, for "four hundred and seven " read " five 
hundred and eighty-four, inclusive of non-combatants." 

9. The great bay in the north-eastern part of our continent 
is commonly called Hudson's Bay, and its outlet Hudson's 
Strait. I have adopted the names " Hudson Bay " and " Hud- 
son Strait," sanctioned, as I believe, by good usage. 



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